Free child safety seat checks coming to La Porte
9/17/2015
9/17/2015 (La Porte, IN) - For children ages 1-13, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death. Parents and caregivers can participate in free child seat safety checks next week to help protect their little ones while riding in vehicles. The event is organized by Jo Ellen England, senior office manager for IU Health La Porte Physicians Pediatrics office.
The Car Seat Safety Check event will be from 1-3 p.m., Sept. 22 in the parking lot at the corner of Tyler and Washington streets in La Porte. The event will happen rain or shine. Participants should be sure to have both the child and safety seat the child uses present for the check. For those whose safety seats are deemed defective, free car seats will be available for replacement. Technicians will check for correct positioning and harnessing, and any defects in seats that could lead to their failure during a crash.
"This event will double as a certificate completion for seven people in our communities who are becoming certified safety seat technicians," England said. IU Health colleagues from physician offices in Plymouth and La Porte, as well as Starke and La Porte hospitals, will be conducting the seat checks. In addition, a car seat manufacturer in Indiana is sending their employee to complete certification at this event, and another is getting certified to train others on child seat safety. "Our goal is to have permanent fitting stations available in La Porte, Starke County and Plymouth to serve the community," England said. England is the 2014 winner of the Child Safety Advocate Award by the Safe Kids Automotive Safety Program sponsored by the IU School of Medicine for her work in promoting issues of child safety.
The event is free and open to the public. The free car seats issued to replace defective seats are made available with support from a grant secured by the La Porte Hospital Foundation.
For more information about child safety seats and proper usage, visit safercar.gov and click on Car Seats.
Follow IU Health La Porte Hospital and IU Health Starke Hospital on Facebook for updates about free programs and events, or check iuhealth.org/laporte, or iuhealth.org/starke Events or Newsroom for information about upcoming programs and services.
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