As almost any parent will tell you, properly installing a child’s car safety seat isn’t always as easy as reading and following the directions. “When you combine the different types of safety seats with the hundreds of makes and models of vehicles on the market today, it can make correctly securing the seat a real challenge,” says Michelle Hunget, Family Care Center director at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
The result is that many parents with the best of intentions incorrectly install safety seats, meaning they may not function properly in crash situations. The result could be a child’s serious injury, or even death. “Statistics show as many as eight out of 10 child safety seats are incorrectly installed,” Hunget says. “That means our children could be safer.”
To keep Wyandotte County children as safe as possible, Providence is offering free monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. A Car Seat Safety Check is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Providence. The checks are held in the parking lot near the hospital’s main entrance. Each safety check takes about 30 minutes. An appointment is required and can be made by calling 800-281-7777. These checks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Certified passenger safety technicians will be available to check if seats are correctly installed, and to answer any questions parents may have. These technicians have completed a course in child safety seat inspections and have technical skills and knowledge regarding the proper use and installation of the seats. To keep apprised of the technological changes and federal regulations that affect correct installation of child safety seats, technicians must be re-certified every two years.
“Currently, before a newborn goes home from Providence, we check to be sure the parents know how to properly secure the baby in a safety seat,” Hunget says. “It is still the parent’s responsibility to make sure the seat is correctly installed in the car. This program is a good way for us to help parents be certain their child’s seat is correctly installed and safe.”
To schedule an appointment, call 800-281-7777.