Child passenger seat safety events slated in March

Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas Department of Transportation personnel will conduct three child passenger seat safety events in Fannin, Grayson and Lamar Counties in March.

These events are slated for: March 18, 4 to 6 p.m., 330 South Armstrong Street in Denison; March 19, 9 to 11 a.m., Bailey Inglish Early Childhood Center at 201 East Tenth Street in Bonham; and March 20, 3 to 5 p.m. at Home Depot (3120 NE Loop 286) in Paris, Texas.

TxDOT and AgriLife representatives will be on hand to provide hands-on instruction on how to correctly place a child in a child safety seat, and assist parents and caregivers with the installation of their child’s safety seat. They will also offer tips on choosing a safety seat based on the child’s age, height and weight, and check to ensure that seats have not been recalled.

“Parents can come by with their vehicle, child and car seat, and we will help them make sure their seat is safe and installed correctly,” said Monica Yates, TxDOT transport funding specialist based in Paris. “We also need to know your child’s weight and height, so please bring that info with you. Each consultation takes about 30 minutes.”

Those who plan to attend should call in advance to make an appointment, Yates said. She can be reached at 903-737-9292.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, many child passenger seats are not properly installed or used correctly. Common child safety seat errors include: installing the seat too loosely; putting the harness straps through the wrong slots; leaving harness straps too loose; positioning the chest clip incorrectly; and using the wrong seat belt path.

Drivers should refer to their specific car seat manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to install a safety seat. The vehicle owner’s manual also includes information on the proper placement of car seats and proper use of the seat belt or LATCH system.