Get a Free Car Seat Inspection Dec. 19 In Schulenburg

Every parent wants the best for their child’s future, and one of the best ways to make sure your child will have a bright future is to be sure that you are correctly using the right car seat for your child and that the seat is correctly installed in your vehicle every time. The problem is that keeping them safe in vehicles isn’t as easy as it might appear. Most parents think they are using their car seat correctly, but unfortunately, at least three out of four car seats are used incorrectly. For a car seat to best protect your child, it must be the one that fits your child, your vehicle, and one that you will use correctly every time you travel.

All parents and caregivers are urged to attend the Schulenburg Child Safety Seat Checkup event on Tuesday, Dec. 19. This event is being sponsored by TxDOT Passenger Safety Programs and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension- Fayette County. Certified technicians will be available to provide on-site child safety seat inspections and education from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the New Gym parking lot which is next to SISD Elementary School located at 300 Bucek Street, Schulenburg.

Securing your children properly in age- and size-appropriate child safety seats — in the back seat of your vehicle — is the most effective thing you can do to protect them in the event of a crash. In fact, in motor vehicle crashes, child safety seats reduce the risk of a fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. Misuse of car seats can cause needless injuries and fatalities.

For a child safety seat to do its job correctly, it has to be:

• Appropriate for your child’s age and size,

• Installed properly in your vehicle, and

• Adjusted to fit your child securely.

Parents are reminded to keep children rear-facing until they reach the highest limit of their rear-facing convertible seat, which is usually 40 pounds or more. Also, children should stay in a 5-point harness system until they reach the highest limit of the seat. Booster seats are for children who are at least age 4 and 40 pounds or more and mature enough to sit still in a booster. Finally, keep children in a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly. This is usually sometime between ages 8 and 12. The average child fits in a seat belt at age 11.