In theme with “Child Passenger Safety Week”, CHP pushes message

COURTESY: ANNICK JOSEPH (KIEM)

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM)-California Highway Patrol Officers respond to vehicle crashes involving children every day.

In 2017, data from the National Highway Traffic Administration showed 37% of kids killed in vehicle related accidents were unrestrained.

This week is child passenger safety week- which runs through to September 26th. 

Paul Craft is the public information officer for the California Highway Patrol.

“Car seat safety is important year round but we do focus on it this week, for car seat safety week awareness partnered with the National Highway Safety Administration,” he said. “They provide grant money to do additional car seat check-up events and have their car seats checks.”

Safety officials urge everyone to NOT buy a used car seat, unless the age of the seat can be verified.  Most manufacture dates can be found on the back or bottom of the seat.

Those who may feel embarrassed due to a lack of knowledge when it comes to installing a child seat, shouldn’t, statistics show 60% of children’s safety seats are used incorrectly.

“I can say throughout my children’s youth I probably was installing my car seats wrong,” said Craft. “I learned a lot from the specialized training that I received. Car seat manufacturers make things so different now, they’re much safer but they also have more features.”

“And then, the number one thing is to model by behavior by wearing your own seat belt. “

Information about proper seat choice and installation tips are available through a link found by clicking here.  

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