Is your child’s car seat safe and appropriate for their age? Does it meet safety standards? Do you know how to properly install the car safety seat inside your vehicle? These are just some of the checkpoints the Dickinson Police Department will be reviewing during its car seat safety checkup next month.
In conjunction with Sax Motor Co., Community Action Head Start and the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the Dickinson Police Department are getting ready to sponsor its car seat safety checkup from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in the parking lot of Sax Motor Co. During the event, certified child passenger safety technicians will be on scene to assist parents and caregivers with proper use and installation of their car safety seats for their children.
Each checkup will take about 30 minutes, and officials encourage parents to have their car seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual present. If possible, the child who usually rides in the seat should accompany the parent at the event so it makes for a more accurate tutorial. Also, all participating families will receive free safety packets.
Dickinson Police Capt. Joe Cianni noted that each officer that is a certified child passenger safety technician has to undergo extensive training which lasts four days.
“Most parents are trying to protect their children by using car safety seats, but approximately 90 percent of car seats are used incorrectly,” Cianni said in a press release. “A misused car seat may result in serious injury to a child in a crash. There are many different car safety seats and many different vehicle protection systems, and they do not always work well together.”
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At the checkup, car safety seats will be inspected to see whether the car seat is safe and appropriate for the age, weight and developmental level of the child; whether the car seat meets safety standards, has it been recalled and what condition it is in; how well is the child secured in the car safety seat; and how is the car safety seat installed in the vehicle.
“I encourage parents to participate in the car seat checkup. Don’t wait until you have a crash to find out that your car seat was being used incorrectly. Our children are too precious to risk their lives in preventable situations,” Cianni stated in a press release.
To make an appointment, contact Community Action Head Start at 701-227-3010.
