The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (September 12, 2013) – The Sullivan County Child Passenger Seat program will conduct a child safety seat check-up event on Friday, September 20 at the Loch Sheldrake Fire House.

Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. by appointment, to check car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers on how to choose the right car seats and install them properly in their vehicles.

The event, which is free to the public, is part of Sullivan County Public Health Services participation in a statewide effort during National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15-21) and National Seat Check week to improve the safety of New York’s children.

Based on U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash data in 2011, on average, nearly 2 children under 13 were killed and 338 were injured every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans. In 2011, over one- third of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. In New York State, nearly 8,500 children from birth to 15 years of age are treated yearly in hospitals for injuries from a motor vehicle crash.

According to NHTSA, three out of every four car seats are not used correctly. Failure to read and carefully follow the installation instructions included with the car seat as well as those in the vehicle owner’s manual can lead to incorrect installation, exposing a child passenger to grave risk of serious injury or death in a crash.

During National Child Passenger Safety Week, car seat check-up events will be conducted in localities throughout New York State as part of a statewide initiative to increase public awareness about how often car seats are misused, the importance of using the devices properly and to provide parents and caregivers the opportunity to get their car seat checked by child passenger safety professionals so they will “know for sure” their children are safe while riding in the car.

“Know for Sure Your Child is in the Right Seat” is a national campaign launched by NHTSA and the Ad Council to make sure all parents and caregivers are properly securing their children (birth-12 years) in the right car restraint (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats and seat belts) for their age and size and to ensure they are properly used and installed by parents and caregivers. The national campaign is being conducted and promoted by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State Child Passenger Safety Advisory Board with support from New York State Department of Health Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, NYS Thruway Authority and New York State Safe Kids Coalition.

Parents and caregivers can also attend a car seat inspection station or check-up events conducted held throughout the year. For a county listing, go to www.safeny.ny.gov/events.htm for questions about child passenger safety, contact Sullivan County Public Health Services at 845-292-5910 ext 2271.