North Andover Fire Dept. To Host Car Seat Inspection Event In August

NORTH ANDOVER, MA —The North Andover Fire Department has announced it will be hosting a Back to School Child Safety Seat Inspection event.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 20 at the North Andover Fire Department, located at 795 Chickering Road.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 608 children 12 and younger were killed in traffic crashes while riding in a passenger vehicle. But car seats reduce an infant's rate of fatal injury in crashes by 41 percent, the NTHSA said.

However, NHTSA said 46 percent of child car seats are installed incorrectly.

The event in North Andover will feature nationally-certified child passenger safety technicians, who will help with proper car seat installation. They also will help ensure attendees have the correct car seat for their child's height, weight and age and check car seats for recalls.

In Massachusetts, all children riding in motor vehicles must be in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured according to the manufacturer's instructions until they are 8 years old or over 57 inches tall.

Additional details about car seat laws in Massachusetts and other car seat inspection sites are available on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.