car seat check | The Batavian

The City of Batavia Fire Department is offering free car seat checks Saturday

By Press Release
Sep 17, 2024, 5:20pm

Press Release:

Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities to hold Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 15 - 21. The annual safety week ends with National Seat Check Saturday, a day for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children.
The City of Batavia Fire Department announced today that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be offering free car seat safety checks on Saturday, September 21 beginning at 10 a.m. at City of Batavia Headquarters. Technicians will check car seats, let caregivers know if their children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes, and show them how to install the right seats correctly.
Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats. They think they’re protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child’s age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk. According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children.
Every day in 2022, an average of three children 14 and younger were killed in crashes, and another 429 were injured. We know parents love their kids, so they’ll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats — it’s worth making sure.
According to NHTSA, more than a third (39%) of children 14 and younger who died in crashes in 2022 in cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs were unbuckled.
The safety agency wants caregivers to know that it’s never safe to ride unbuckled in a passenger vehicle — no matter how short the trip or how big the vehicle. More than half (52%) of the child passengers 14 and younger killed in pickup trucks in 2022 were unrestrained — more than any other vehicle category. Bigger vehicles don’t protect child passengers, but car seats, booster seats, and seat belts do.
When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage — from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat installed with a tether, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents’ minds at ease by discussing correct car seat selection and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle.
Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow those limits, and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.
If Saturday’s times don’t work for your schedule, but you’d still like to have your car seats checked, contact the City of Batavia Fire Department at 585-345-6375 to schedule an appointment.
NHTSA.gov also has free resources available to caregivers. Learn about the different car seat types, read NHTSA’s research-based recommendations, and find and compare car seats.
It’s also important for caregivers to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. Download NHTSA’s SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire info in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.
For more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other car seat check events, go to
www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.
Or Contact Car Seat Program Coordinator Lt. Bob Tedford at 585-345-6375.

City fire department will hold free car seat check at headquarters on Saturday, Sept. 29

By Billie Owens
Sep 21, 2018, 2:49pm

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department today announced it will be participating in National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 23-29).

The Department will be conducting a “Free Car Seat Check” event on Saturday, Sept. 29, at its Headquarters at 18 Evans St. Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to check car seats for proper installation, and educate parents and caregivers on how to choose the right car seat for their family, and install them properly in their vehicles.

Each year in New York almost 3,000 kids up to the age of 13 are treated at hospitals for injuries from a motor vehicle crash. Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury/death for children 1 through 12 years old. Most 'tweens (8-12 years old) seriously injured or killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts or wearing them correctly. 'Tweens are also more likely to get hurt in crashes when riding in the front seat.

Remember, the safest place for a child under the age of 13 is in the back seat properly restrained. Many death and injuries could be prevented if children were properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint.

Many Parents and guardians assume they know how to choose and use the correct child seat for their children, but sadly these restraints are frequently used incorrectly. In fact, three out of every four children are riding at an increased risk of injury because their car seats are not being used correctly.

The “Know for Sure if Your Child is in the Right Car Seat” campaign was developed by the National Highway Safety Administration and the National Ad Council to make sure all parents and caregivers properly secure their children in the best car restraint for their age and size and use these devices properly. This campaign is being promoted by the NYS Governors Traffic Safety Committee.

The City of Batavia Fire Department urges parents to follow National Highway Safety Administrations car seat recommendation that parents and caregivers keep children in their car seat for as long as possible according to manufacturer instructions before moving them up to the next type. For maximum safety, a parent or caregiver should have the car seat installation inspected by a Certified Safety Technician to ensure their kids are riding as safely as possible.

The City of Batavia Fire Department’s Car Seat Technicians are available 7 days a week by calling Fire Headquarters at (585) 345-6375 to schedule an appointment.