The Medical Center of South Arkansas will be conducting car seat inspections by appointment on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to noon in the MCSA front entrance lower parking lot at 700 W. Grove St.
MCSA’s nationally-certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will perform inspections and train parents and caregivers to install and adjust their car seats properly.
“Think of it as a private lesson in the correct use of your car seat,” said MCSA Women’s Center Director Alison Stone.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children under 14. Under Arkansas law, all children under six years and sixty pounds must be restrained in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. Properly used, a car seat reduces the risk of death by 71% for rear-facing infants and 54% for forward-facing toddlers, and a booster seat reduces the risk of death by 59% for children ages 4 to 8.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 46% of all child passenger restraints — more than 58% of car seats and about 20% of booster seats — are used incorrectly.
“It’s a parent’s responsibility to make sure a child’s car seat is properly installed and adjusted. We’re here to show you how,” said Stone.
Parents and caregivers will need to bring their children, their car seats and the vehicle used most often to transport them. For more information or to register, contact 870-864-3245 by June 11.