TUCSON, Ariz. — Safe Kids Pima County is partnering with local law enforcement agencies for a free car seat safety check this weekend.
The car seat safety check will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Arizona Pavilions Walmart, 8280 N. Coraro Rd. At the event, officers from the Tucson Police Department, The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Marana Police Department will be checking car seats to make sure they're properly installed.
Safe Kids Pima County Coordinator Jessica Mitchell said common mistakes she sees parents make when installing a car seat is using both the seat belt and lower anchors to hold the car seat down on the seat (she said to only do one of those) and transitioning a child into the next phase of seat too early (this could be moving from forward facing to rear facing or car seat to booster seat too early.
The best option is to keep the child in rear facing as long as possible, and then a car seat as long as possible, because, Mitchell said, it keeps the child more secure for longer.
"The car seat actually takes up the brunt of the crash forces when involved in a car accident. If that car seat is not tighten down or if it's not installed at all, then that child is going to feel those crash forces which ultimately leads to the injures they're going to experience," Mitchell said.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, having a car seat installed correctly reduces the risk of a child dying, in the event of a crach, by 71%
To learn more about free events hosted by Safe Kids Pima County to get a car seat checked, go here.
