The Ferguson Township Police Department will host a free child safety seat installation event open to the public this week.
From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, parents and caregivers can stop by Bobby Rahal Honda, 2796 W. College Ave., to ask questions and receive hands-on instruction from certified child passenger safety technicians on how to choose, correctly install and use car seats and booster seats.
Technicians will be available to explain how to choose the right car seat for a child’s age and size, how to correctly install the seat in their vehicle and how to use that seat correctly every time. They will also discuss the importance of registering car seats in case of a recall.
No advance registration is required.
The event comes at the conclusion of the nationally standardized Child Passenger Safety (CPS) training being attended by local and state enforcement officers, as well as professionals form human service organizations, from Tuesday through Thursday at the Ferguson Township Municipal Building.
The three-day course combines classroom teaching, hands-on skills training and a car seat safety check to teach individuals how to become child passenger safety technicians. CPS technicians use their knowledge and expertise at a variety of community-based activities, such as child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance. CPS technicians and instructors also keep up-to-date on the latest technical information about child passenger safety through seminars and other continuing education opportunities.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children. According to national data, 46% of car seats are misused. Research shows that children are being placed in the wrong car seat for their age and size and the car seat is being installed improperly. The best way for parents and caregivers to keep children safe in vehicles is to select and use the right car seat for the child’s age and size until the child is ready to use the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
