Child safety seats can save lives, but they need to be used properly to be effective. Parents and caregivers can get support in fitting their children securely in car seats at five free child car seat check-up events in upcoming months, beginning Friday, April 24, 2015. Public Health – Seattle & King County is hosting the events.
Event details
- Friday, April 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Coal Creek Family YMCA located at 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Rd, Newcastle
- Friday, May 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Renton Community Center located at 1715 SE Maple Valley Hwy, Renton
- Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Babies R Us, 17501 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila
- Thursday, July 16, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Valley Regional Fire Authority, 1101 D St NE, Auburn
- Friday, August 7, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at St. Francis Hospital, 34515 9th Ave S, Federal Way
Parents and caregivers will have their child safety seat checked by a certified child safety seat technician for safe installation and educational materials will be on hand. Soon-to-be parents and caregivers are welcome as well.
These events are ones of many ongoing child safety seat check-up events in the Puget Sound area. Check the Washington Safety Restraint Coalition website for locations and schedules.
Recommendations for child use
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children up to two years old in rear facing seats or until they have reached the maximum height and weight limits of the car seat as allowed by the manufacturer.
Benefits of safety seats
Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants younger than one year old and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars, according to national research. Among children four to eight years old, child safety seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45 percent when compared with seat belt use alone.
For more information about the child care seat check- up events, please contact Alan Abe, King County Emergency Medical Services Division at 206-263-8544.
