How certain are you that your child is as safe as possible while riding in the car? With vehicle crashes remaining a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 12 in the United States, it is critical to ensure children are properly secured in car seats designed to accommodate their growing bodies. Car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Make sure your child is in the correct car seat.
To help caregivers transport children as safely as possible, the North Charleston Fire Department, North Charleston Fire Museum, Safe Kids Charleston Area, MUSC Children’s Health, and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety will host a free car seat checkup event on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Charleston Fire Museum, located at 4975 Centre Pointe Drive.
Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand to inspect car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers on selecting the appropriate car seat and installing it correctly. Technicians will also check expiration dates and recalls and demonstrate how to register car seats with manufacturers so families can be notified in the event of a recall. Car seat checks will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, contact Capt. Laura Kondor, fire safety coordinator with the North Charleston Fire Department, at 843-740-2647 or email LKondor@northcharleston.org.
For additional fire safety information, follow the North Charleston Fire Department on NorthCharleston.org, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, the Neighbors App, and Instagram.