Safe Kids North Carolina’s Community Risk Reduction team is joining Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe Kids Guilford and State Farm to host a car seat safety checkup event on Thursday, November 16 from 1-4 p.m. in Greensboro.
This event is part of a new initiative – the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program. This program aims to bring child passenger safety to families and communities across the country to help ensure kids are buckled up in the right seat for every ride. The event is free and open to the public.
“We’re happy to team with State Farm and Safe Kids Worldwide for this important program,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who also serves as Chair of Safe Kids N.C. “Our goal is to educate parents, grandparents, and caregivers and hopefully save children’s lives by making sure families are using the right car safety seat for their child’s age and size.”
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 years old.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 710 children were killed in passenger vehicles in 2021, and more than 100,000 were injured. More than a third (36%) of the children who died were unrestrained.
Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.
A child’s age, weight and height can all play a factor when determining proper safety harnesses, so it’s important to stay informed with all current regulations and suggestions.
At Thursday’s event, National Certified Child Safety Seat Technicians will inspect car seats free of charge to make sure children are in age-appropriate seats that are properly installed.
Families who cannot afford a child seat can come to the clinic with their child to receive a free car seat if needed and have it installed/inspected.
Child safety seats will be limited to 50 seats for this event and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Below are the details for the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program Event:
WHO: Safe Kids N.C., Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe Kids Guilford, and State Farm
WHAT: Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program
WHERE: WellCare
3711 Farmington Dr.
Greensboro, N.C. 27407
WHEN: Thursday, November 16 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. (Media availability at 2 p.m.)
CONTACT:
Safe Kids Guilford, Leigha Jordan, 336-832-3939, Leigha.Jordan@conehealth.com
State Farm, Kim Conyers, 910-322-1636, kim.conyers.gpqc@statefarm.com
There are approximately 3,000 Child Passenger Safety Technicians operating across all 100 counties in North Carolina.
To view a list of fire stations and other sites in North Carolina that can provide FREE car safety seat checks year-round, visit: safekidsnc.org.