National Child Passenger Safety Week Feb 9-15

February 10, 2003
The week of February 9 - 15, 2003 is recognized as National Child Passenger Safety week. Child Passenger Safety Week is an intensive effort to get parents and caregivers to use child safety and booster seats. Children who are not buckled up are three times more likely to suffer a significant injury in a crash than children who are buckled up. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office recognizes the importance of this week in drawing attention to the safety concerns of children in vehicles.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office Community Services Unit provides child safety seat checkpoints throughout the year. Deputies, who are certified child safety seat technicians, check child car seats for proper installation and various other safety concerns. "The statistics are staggering" said Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn. "Eighty-two percent of child car seats are misused in some way."

The three most common mistakes made with child safety seat installation are: 1) Not attaching the seat tightly to the car or truck; 2) Not fastening the harness tightly enough; and 3) Not using the chest clip or using it incorrectly.

The Community Services Unit of the Sheriff's Office will be conducting child seat safety checks on March 22, June 24, July 26, September 20 and November 22. To schedule an appointment call #428-5510. The vehicle, car seat and child should be brought to the checkpoint.

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