FCPD Hosts Free Car Seat Inspections Today

The Fairfax County Police Department, along with the Fairfax Sheriff's Office, is participating in National Child Passenger Safety Day, hosting a free child safety seat inspection from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Fairfax County Government Center.

"[T]he vast majority of car seats/boosterseats are not properly installed," Lucy Caldwell, spokesperson for FCPD, wrote in an email to Patch. "These CAN be very complex and complicated, unfortunately, so it is a good idea for people with children, or who drive children in their vehicles, to make sure they know how to install these devices."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following:

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

NHTSA also identifies the five most common car seat installation mistakes:

1. Wrong harness slot used: The harness straps used to hold the child in the car seat were positioned either too low or too high;
2. Harness chest clip positioned over the abdomen rather than the chest or not used at all;
3. Loose car seat installation: The restraint system moved more than two inches side-to-side or front to back; anything more than one inch is too much.
4. Loose harness: More than 2 inches of total slack between the child and the harness strap; there should be no slack.
5. Seat belt placement was wrong: Lap belt resting over the stomach and/or shoulder belt on the child's neck or face.

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