North Andover To Host Free Child Safety Seat Inspections Aug. 21

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — It's an alarming number. Forty-six percent of car seats and booster seats in the United States are used incorrectly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While both offer protection for infants and children in a crash, car crashes remain a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13, the NHTSA reports.

A 2015 study by the administration shows that almost all parents use the harness straps but at least 40 percent have the harness too loose, 34 percent have the chest clip in the wrong position and 30 percent have the harness straps twisted. These numbers are specifically for forward-facing car seats but the rear-facing numbers are very similar.

The most common forms of misuse are using the wrong seat for the child’s age and weight, loose safety belt attachment to the car seat and loose harness straps on the child, SafeRide4Kids.com reported.

To make sure parents have their cars seats properly installed, the North Andover Fire and Police Departments will host back-to-school child safety seat inspections Saturday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The inspections will take place at the North Andover Fire Department, which is at 795 Chickering Road in North Andover.

During the event, nationally-certified child passenger safety technicians will help residents with proper car seat installation and choosing the correct car seat for their child's height, weight and age. They'll also be on hand to check their car seat for any recalls.