Safety First, Child Car Seats
Published March 16th, 2013
OCALA - We can not change destiny but we can definitely find ways to prevent it. This afternoon parents in Ocala had the opportunity to get their childrens' car seats and boosters checked out by safety technicians. The parents that dropped by with their kids say they left safer than they arrived.
Kids in vehicles but no car seats. Jason Cunningham from Ocala, drives semi-trucks for a living and says he sees it everyday. "I drive for a living and I see people everyday, when i look down, i see kids bouncing around the back seat. It drives me nuts. I drive a semi in town so i see it everyday and it scares me."
And even though accidents happen, preventative measures can be taken. The Safe Kids website reports car seats and boosters saved an estimated 300 lives among children under the age of 5 in 2009.
Bridgette Maurice a Safety Seat Technician for the Ocala Police Department says, "A vehicle in motion comes to a sudden stop, it's just not physically possible to hold or restrain with your arms a child within the vehicle. It's going to take things that have been tested and certified to be able to withstand those forces and that's what the car seats are for," Maurice said.
That's why law enforcement and representatives from the Marion County's Safe Kids program checked child safety seats to make sure they we're properly installed. Cunningham had his own 4-year old's car seat reviewed and discovered she had out-grown it.
All 50 states have child restraint laws. However just having a car seat or a booster isn't enough...You also have to make sure they are being used properly. You want to make sure and check the expiration date of your car seats. This one for example expired 2 years ago. In florida most car seats last about 5 years and thats because the plastic doesn't hold as well due to the sun.
Little Emma said goodbye to her old car seat and hello to a big kids seat. She says she likes her new booster more. Emma says, "But i don't want the old one though."
If you're unsure whether your child's car seat is the right one or up to date then a lot of police departments, fire stations and hospitals have certified safety seat technicians that will take a look for you. For more information, you can check their website: SafeKids.org
Also, to check if your child's car seat has been recalled visit SafeCar.gov
