ECBC Hosting FREE car seat safety inspections on Thursday, July 28

How much do you really know about car seat safety? Sure, you may know not to place car seats in the front seat. You may know that babies need to be in rear facing seats. You may think you know how to place the seat in your car so that it seems snug.

But ask yourself this. How much do you really know? How sure are you that your child’s safety seat is securely in place? Are you clear on the specifics or could you use some more guidance? If your answers to these questions are anything but positive, rest assured, you are not alone!

A surprising 3 out of 4 child safety seats are not installed correctly. Moreover, many other mistakes are made as well, such as allowing children to leave booster seats too early, and placing padded inserts in their seats. Well- intentioned parents and guardians make mistakes that compromise a child’s safety without even realizing they are doing so. Could you be one of them? Let’s do all we can to make sure that we aren’t. Check out a fact sheet we have provided on car seat safety which includes a detailed timeline by which to judge your child’s changing safety seat needs. Also provided on the sheet are a few common mistakes that parents make concerning safety seats. There is also a small section concerning common questions that pregnant women often have relating to their safety when riding in the car.

Even though resources like the fact sheet we have provided and others available online keep us from making common mistakes, there is no substitute for a properly installed car seat. Though parents do their best to install their child’s seat properly and to achieve maximum safety, there is no substitute for having a trained professional examine a seat to make sure it is meeting every requirement. We are pleased to be able to provide you with this opportunity!

Join us Thursday morning , 28 July, to have your car seat individually installed and inspected in your vehicle! As part of ECBC’s annual Organizational Day picnic morning activities, Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) will be hosting a car seat safety check. From 9 AM to 12 PM, trained KISS professionals will be installing and checking your car seat for proper placement and fit to maximize the safety of your child while riding in the car. The activity will be located in the parking lot of E4650 (the old Gunpowder Club near the pool) and will only take 15 – 20 minutes. It is not necessary to have the child present.

What You Should know About Car Seat Safety