Courtesy of the Safe Kids Coalition of San Benito County:
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 23rd-29th), the Safe Kids Coalition of San Benito County conducted a Car Seat Safety Check-up on Sept. 25 at the K-mart parking lot in Hollister. Certified child passenger safety technicians were available to provide safety tips and car seat installation instructions to parents and caregivers.
More than 50 car seats were inspected by certified technicians from the San Benito County Public Health Department, California Highway Patrol, AAA Insurance, State Farm Insurance and the Safe Kids Coalition of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. The car seats were provided through a grant from the AAA and the State of California.
“Car seats, booster seats, and seat belts are often used incorrectly, our goal is to make sure that the seats are properly secured based on the child’s age, height and weight” said Ariana Melendez, car seat event coordinator and county public health assistant.
When safety seats are used correctly, they decrease the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports. As of Jan. 1, 2017, California law requires that all children under age two ride in a rear-facing safety seat. The law also requires that all children under the age of eight ride in the back seat in an age-appropriate safety seat. Safety experts recommend that all children ride in the back seat until 13 years of age.
For a free car seat inspection local residents may contact any of the following agencies:
· California Department of Highway Patrol
· San Benito County Department of Public Health
· First Five San Benito County
The goal of the Safe Kids Coalition of San Benito County is to prevent unintentional childhood injuries through the collaborative efforts of community agencies to provide education and public awareness of the leading causes of injuries. Such agencies include the San Benito County Public Health Department, CHP, Hollister Recreation Department, Hollister Fire Department, Council of San Benito County Governments, YMCA, and the Hollister Police Department.
