Child Car Seat Safety Check Events Coming To Delaware County

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — PennDOT is looking to ensure kids in cars are as safe as possible by hosting free car seat safety checks and education events in Delaware County soon.

Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be offering free car seat safety checks and education to parents and caregivers in the Philadelphia region as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from Sept. 18 through Sept. 24.

Events will be held in Springfield and Aston.

The schedule and registration links for these events are below:

• Wednesday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Springfield Hospital, 190 West Sproul Road, Springfield, register here.
• Sunday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to noon, Aston Township Fire Department, 2900 Dutton Mill Road, Aston, register here.
• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to noon, Aston Township Fire Department, 2900 Dutton Mill Road, Aston, register here.

During free car seat checks, technicians will help determine if children are in the right seat for their age and size and explain the importance of registering car seats with the manufacturer which ensures users are notified in the event of a safety recall.

"Most parents think their kids are in the right seats and that the seats are installed the right way," said Alyson Strigle, Delaware County Transportation Management Association Project Director. "The reality is that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly, leaving kids vulnerable to injury in a crash."

Child passenger safety seat checks are an opportunity for parents to ensure their children are safe in their car and booster seats.

"Don't wait for a crash to happen to find out if your child's seat is installed correctly. At that point, it's too late to check," said Strigle. "Let an expert check for you to have that peace of mind."

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children, and the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 46 percent ;of car seats are misused.

A common mistake made with car seats is moving children to the next seat or position too soon. Pennsylvania law requires children to ride in a rear-facing car seat to the age of two.

Best car seat practice based on decades of research recommends children ride rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height and weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

Once a child outgrows a rear-facing car seat, they are ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat, a child should be buckled in a booster seat until tall enough to fit properly in an adult seat belt.

"Children might ask to ditch the booster seat because it makes them feel older to ride without it," said Strigle. "But their safety matters most."

All parents and caregivers are invited to attend these free events.

PennDOT also offers the following tips:

• Select a car seat that is right for the child's age and size and use it every time;
• Fill out and return the registration card for your seat, so you'll be notified in the event of a safety recall;
• Always read and follow the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual for information on correctly installing the car seat in the vehicle; and
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.