Children take a seat for safety

cccccarseat062: Back-to-School Car Seat Inspection
These two children seem happy that their child car seats are being inspected.
When it comes to a child's safety, something as simple as sitting in a car seat cannot be taken for granted. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 1,638 children, ages 14 years and younger, died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes during 2004 and approximately 214,000 were injured. Of those children killed, half were unrestrained. A survey of more than 17,500 children found that only 15 percent in safety seats were correctly harnessed into properly installed seats.

Community Connection for Child Care (CCCC) drew awareness to those issues in an effort to help parents by presenting a free, Back-to-School Car Seat Inspection for them on Sept. 9. It was held in the Babies R Us parking lot at 9280 Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield. Several local organizations partnered with CCCC, including State Farm Insurance, Babies R Us, California Highway Patrol, Kern County Fire and Public Health departments, Bakersfield City Police and Culligan Water.

Approximately 50 families brought their cars to have the child seats inspected. According to CCCC Program Manager Lisa Duncan-Purcell, the inspection program is part of a long- standing partnership CCCC has with the health department to provide approved child car seat vouchers to low income families who attend a workshop on proper installation and safety.

Certified passenger safety technicians, including two from CCCC who were trained by State Farm Insurance, inspected child car seats to make sure they were installed correctly and that each restraint was age and weight appropriate for the child using it. Additional safety tips were provided by representatives from several local agencies.

Even the children's enjoyment was planned into the event. While waiting, they took part in fun activities arranged just for them.

Program Managers Lisa Duncan-Purcell and Kerri Jones, Program Supervisor Cindy Burns, Family Advocate Jackie Cardenas and Clerk Typist Geanna Salmon were among those from CCCC on hand to help children and parents with car seat installation and safety tips.

"It was wonderful to meet so many parents committed to child safety," Duncan-Purcell said. "And they were all so appreciative that it was a free event."

If you would like more information about child car seat safety and other CCCC programs and events, please check the Web site, http://kcsos.kern.org/cccc or http://www.littletravelers.org.


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