Child car seats need proper fitting
By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor
If you think all child car seats are equal and all you have to do is strap them in with a car's seat belt, think again.
That was the message at the Child Seat Inspection Stations program presented by safe Kids of Western Massachusetts and hosted by Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke.
Magda Rodriguez, the coordinator of the program that is located at Baystate Health Systems Ambulance Service, 345 Page Blvd. in Springfield, said that 85 percent of child car seats are fitted incorrectly.
The size of the child, how the child sits into the seat and how the seat fits into the car are factors that can make a difference in an accident, she said.
The inspection program is staffed with volunteers who are certified in car seat fitting, Rodriguez said. Some are local police officers and some are staff members at the Children's Hospital at Baystate Medical Center. They look at the car seat and make sure it's the right one for the child and the car.
Rodriguez said that as a child grows the car seat must be replaced, and by age eight, replaced with a booster seat. She added that buying a used car seat at a tag sale or flea market is not a good idea. Not only does the safety technology change rapidly with car seats, the buyer has no idea of the history of the used car seat and whether or not it has been impacted in an accident.
The inspection program comes out to off-site locations when invited, she said. Over 27 cars went through the program last week. Its permanent hours are every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. To make an appointment, call 794-2255.
|
|
