Every year, hundreds of children die or suffer serious injuries in car crashes. Many of them are not properly buckled-in their car seats.
Tuesday, June 27, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the Franklin Fire Department, in partnership with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, is helping parents double-check car seat safety.
The event will take place at Franklin Fire Station 6, located at 1061 Cool Springs Boulevard.
Please allow 30 minutes for your inspection and bring your child with you, if possible.
Lt. Jonathan Gill said little modifications to a car seat can make a huge difference during a crash.
"If they're strapped in incorrectly, if the base is not in contact with the actual vehicle seat itself, if we use wrong mounting points," he said.
Often times, he said, when he checks car seats many parents have it wrong.
"Out of the 30 parents that arrived there, 28 of the seats were installed incorrectly," he said.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, Top 5 Things to Check:
- Right Seat: Check the label on your car seat to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height.
- Right Place: Keep all children in the back seat until they are 13.
- Right Direction: Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, usually until around age two. When they outgrow it, move them to a forward-facing car seat.
- Inch Test: Once your car seat is installed, give it a good shake at the base. A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.
- Pinch Test: Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual). Place the chest clip at armpit level then pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.
If you cannot make it to the event, you can schedule an appointment with a Franklin Fire technician. Call 615-791-3275.
