Is your car seat properly installed? Double-check at a free event in Idaho Falls.
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IDAHO FALLS — Do you know if the car seat for your child is properly installed in your vehicle? There are some experts that want to help you at a free event.
There’s a “Car Seat Check” event on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grease Monkey, 2100 Channing Way in Idaho Falls.
The event brings attention to Child Passenger Safety Week. Click here to view other events that will be happening on varying dates in eastern Idaho. It aims to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of protecting kids during every stage of development, including car seats, booster seats, and seat belt use.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, last year in Idaho, there were 2,538 crashes involving a child passenger between 0 to 6 years old. A total of 515 of those kids were unrestrained in the vehicles. Two children died: one was in a car seat and one was not, ITD said.
Courtney Norman, the District 7 Liaison for Child Passenger Safety with the Idaho Office of Highway Safety, said she invites parents and kids to come and learn.
“We check kiddos’ car seats and make sure they are riding safely in the vehicles and that they are secured properly in the vehicle. We can help install them correctly and answer questions for parents,” Norman said.
She said Grease Monkey will also have burgers, hot dogs, and swag to hand out. Other partners in the event include Little Defenders Inc., Idaho Falls Community Hospital, and Idaho State Police.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that while most parents and caregivers believe they know how to properly install their car seats, about half (48%) have installed their child’s car seat incorrectly, a news release from ITD said.
Norman explained to EastIdahoNews.com what she had seen at previous events and what she had been able to help with.
“The child’s harness is twisted and it’s not routed correctly. I’ve seen car seats show up not even buckled into the vehicle, and we’ve had parents pull in with kids riding even on their laps,” she said.
Norman added that there are so many different makes and models nowadays, and sometimes, people don’t have the right resources to install them correctly. That is why she is encouraging anyone to come out.
“We have technicians who have gone through three-day courses that are certified nationally that are knowledgable, and we want to share that information and keep Idaho’s kids riding a little bit safer,” she said.
