Certified Car Seat Technicians will Perform Free Checks 

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced today that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians would be offering free car seat checks and education to parents and caregivers this week as part of National Seat Check Week. 

National Child Passenger Safety Week runs from September 23-29, 2018. The week is dedicated to teaching parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. Parents will also be reminded of the importance of registering car seats with their manufacturers so they can be notified in the event of a recall. 

            Erie County Sheriff’s events:

•  Monday, September 24, 4 P.M. – 7 P.M., Clarence Substation, 5 Town Place

• Tuesday, September 25, 4 P.M. – 7 P.M., Grand Island Fire Company, 2275 Baseline Rd.

• Wednesday, September 26, 4 P.M. – 7 P.M., East Amherst Fire Company, 9100 Transit Rd.

• Saturday, September 29, 10 A.M. – 2 P.M, East Aurora Fire Company, 33 Center St., in partnership with Assemblyman David DiPietro. 

These free car seat events include instruction on how to install and use car seats correctly. Technicians can help determine if your child is in the right seat for their age and size. Technicians will also explain the importance of registering car seats with their manufacturers so parents and caregivers can be notified if there is a recall. 

“As a parent, whether you consider yourself a beginner or a seasoned veteran, keeping your children safe is always a top priority,” said Sheriff Howard. “And that should always include using the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for your child. No parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to a child’s safety. That is why we are hosting these car seat check events during National Child Passenger Safety Week. Parents – don’t think you know - know you know - that your kids are secure in their car seats, and are in the right seats for their ages and sizes.”  

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one child under thirteen was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 33 seconds in 2015.  Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from NHTSA shows that nearly two out of three car seats are misused and using age- and size-appropriate car seats and correctly installing them are the best ways to reduce these deaths. 

NHTSA recommends keeping children rear facing as long as possible, up to the top height and weight allowed by the particular seats. It’s the best way to keep them safe. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat, a child should be placed in a booster seat until tall enough to fit in a seat belt properly. The safest place for all kids under 13 is in the back seat.