As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, the Dickson Police Department will be offering free car seat checks Saturday, Sept. 21.
Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will check the installation and provide instruction on proper usage of child safety seats 9:00 am-1:00 pm in the rear parking lot of the Dickson Police Department at 202 South Main St.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities and agencies annually to observe Child Passenger Safety Week, which will be Sept. 15-21, 2024. The annual safety week ends with National Seat Check Saturday, a day for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children.
Capt. Jessica Blackwell of the Dickson Police Department’s Special Services Division said technicians will help caregivers determine if children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes, check and demonstrate proper installation and usage and provide information on child seat requirements as the children grow.
“Child passenger safety is important year-round and Child Passenger Safety Week is a good time to emphasize and remind people of how critical proper usage can be in protecting the lives of our children,” Blackwell said. “We invite all parents and caregivers to stop by the department on Sept. 21 for free assistance and information that can save lives.”
According to NHTSA, more than a third (39%) of children 14 and younger who died in crashes in 2022 in cars, pickups, vans and SUVs were unbuckled. The safety agency wants caregivers to know that it’s never safe to ride unbuckled in a passenger vehicle – no matter how short the trip or how big the vehicle. More than half (52%) of child passengers 14 and younger killed in pickup trucks in 2022 were unrestrained – more than any other category.
“Bigger vehicles don’t protect child passengers, but car seats, booster seats and seat belts do,” said Blackwell.
When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and development stage – from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat installed with a tether, a booster seat or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety technician can put parents’ minds at ease by discussing correct car seat selection and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle.
Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow those limits and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat, Blackwell said.
For caregivers who are unable to attend National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 21, find a Certified Child Passenger Safety technician by visiting http://www.nhtsa.gov/vehic…/car-seats-and-booster-seats… with options for Spanish-speaking technicians, virtual appointments and other Child Passenger Safety Week events. The NHTSA website also has resources on different car seat types, recommendations and help in finding the right car seat.
“It’s also important for caregivers to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall,” according to NHTSA. By downloading NHTSA’s SaferCar app, users can save their vehicle, car seat and tire information in a virtual garage and if any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.
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