The California Highway Patrol is observing National Child Passenger Safety Week from September 15th through the 21st by conducting child safety seat events throughout the state, including a child safety seat inspection this Saturday in Susanville at the Fire Hall.
CHP child safety seat technicians will be on hand Saturday assist the public by demonstrating and teaching the proper way to install an infant or child safety seat. The technicians will perform safety inspections for all children in the vehicle who are required to be in a safety seat or a seat belt.
“When installed and used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save lives,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The best way to protect your children in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, collisions are the leading killer of children ages 1 to 12 years old in the United States. Across the nation, 73 percent of child restraints are misused in a manner that can cause serious – if not fatal – injuries to a child.
According to the agency infant seats have the highest percentage of misuse followed by rear-facing convertible seats. When used correctly, child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers.
California’s child passenger safety seat law, which went into effect January 1st, 2012, now requires children to ride in the back seat of a vehicle, in either a car seat or booster seat, until the age of eight, or until they are 4 feet 9 inches in height.
The free CHP child safety seat inspection will be held Saturday, September 21st from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. at the Susanville Fire Hall, 1505 Main Street.
“We encourage everyone to take advantage of our ongoing free inspections and to ensure their child safety seat is correctly installed,” added Commissioner Farrow. “When it comes to our children, we have to take every step we can to ensure their safety.”
