National Child Passenger Safety Week: FREE CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK EVENTS! by Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 11:06am
National Child Passenger Safety Week
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proclaimed the week of September 18-24, 2011 as National Child Passenger Safety Week. According to NHTSA, the Child Passenger Safety Week “is an annual campaign to bring attention to the importance of properly securing all children in appropriate car seat, booster seats and seat belts-every trip every time.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants parents and caregivers to know there are new guidelines to better protect children in cars. Because young bodies are no made to handle the forces of a car crash, the AAP is now recommending that children stay rear facing until at least 2 years old or the weight limit standard of the car seat manufacturer. AAP also stresses that older children need better protection because lap belts can cause serious injury to children under the age of 8 and/or 40 pounds. The new guidelines recommend that older children sit in booster seats to better protect them in a crash.
During the Child Safety Week, agencies are making it easier for parents and caregivers to learn about the new guidelines for child passenger safety seats. Agencies around Santa Rosa County will be providing free car seat check events for the community. These car seat check events will be able to provide parents and caregivers the opportunity to gain advice from nationally certified child passenger safety technicians, ensure their child safety seat is installed correctly in their vehicle, and receive free educational training about child passenger safety seats laws and regulations.
Below are a couple of events that have been established to provide parents and caregivers the most opportunity to gain valuable knowledge to better protect their children:
Monday, September 19, 2011 Midway Fire and Rescue
3:00 PM-5:00 PM
Midway Fire Department, Gulf Breeze, FL
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 Families Count
2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Families Count, Milton, FL
Friday, September 23, 2011 Berryhill Child Care
2:30 PM-5:30 PM
Berryhill Child Care, Milton, FL
All events are free for parents, caregivers, and the community. There will be car seats available for those who need new car seats for a small donation.
