September 17, 2024
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, RHHDpr@vdh.virginia.gov
Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Recognize Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week
RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recognize Child Safety Awareness Week September 15 – 21. This week presents an opportunity to educate parents and caregivers on child passenger safety devices and installation, including car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. RHHD Community Health Workers (CHW) lead ongoing classes at local resource centers as part of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Low Income Safety Seat Program.
“I enjoy knowing that I am playing a part in a child being safe while riding in a car,” said Patrice Shelton, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts certified community health worker. “Children seven years old and younger are eligible for the Low Income Safety Seat program. To participate in the program, families take part in a free one-hour training to learn valuable information on how to keep their child safe within the car. They also receive a new safety seat for their child.”
“It’s simple; it’s about safety; your child’s life depends on it,” said Elham Khairi, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts community health worker. “One of the most important aspects of the training is to demonstrate how to correctly install a car safety seat.”
People who meet the following criteria may be eligible for the Low Income Safety Seat Program:
- Live in Virginia (citizenship not required)
- Custodial parent, legal guardian, or foster parent
- Child is seven years old or younger
- Pregnant mother must be in last trimester of pregnancy
- Income eligible for WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or FAMIS
- Available to attend a training, to learn how to correctly use and install a safety seat and booster seat
Please call 1-800-732-8333 for more information.
VDH hosts regular safety seat check events and offers remote checks by video call for select areas of Virginia by request. On National Seat Check Saturday (September 21), many locations throughout the country will be offering free car seat inspections by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Find out if an event or technician is available in your community by visiting www.nhtsa.gov/CarSeatInspection.
With car crashes being the leading cause of death for children according to the NHTSA, parents and caregivers need to double-check and make sure their children are in the right seats (rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, or booster seats) and that the seats are installed correctly. “Good enough” may not be good enough in a crash.
Here are some important car seat tips from the NHTSA:
- Read the instructions. Before installing a car seat, read both the car seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner’s manual. These documents contain critical information about correct car seat installation in your vehicle. Skipping steps or misusing equipment can have serious consequences. To get expert help installing your car seat, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help you for free.
- Use the tether on forward-facing car seats. Securing the tether is an essential step when installing a forward-facing car seat. It prevents the car seat from moving forward in a crash and may prevent head injury. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find the correct tether anchor location.
- Don’t rush to the next seat. Moving children to the next type of car seat before they’re ready leaves them vulnerable in a crash. Keep your kids in the right seat as long as possible for their age and size.
- Keep children under 13 in the back seat. Riding in the front seat is not safe for kids. Air bags in the front seat are designed for adult passengers. All children under 13 should be buckled in the correct seat — always in the back seat. Never place a car seat in the front seat.
- Register car seats with the manufacturer. That way, in the event of a safety recall, the manufacturer will be able to notify the caregiver. NHTSA’s SaferCar app provides an easy way for parents and caregivers to save their vehicle and car seat details. The app will send the user a notification if any of their saved vehicles or car seats are included in a recall.
# # #