A reminder to boost your child’s safety! ‘Child Passenger Safety Week’ now underway

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With ‘Child Passenger Safety Week’ in full swing, parents and caregivers can expect an increased amount of communication as it pertains to child safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will continuously post various ad campaigns on multiple platforms throughout the week regarding car seat safety.

This will include information about purchasing the right car seat for one’s child according to weight and height, installing it properly and information on when it is time to move on to the next car seat.

According to the administration, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages one to four in passenger cars.

In 2017, the administration found that an estimated 325 child passengers under five were saved by car seats.

How can I find the right car seat for my child?

There is a process for finding the appropriate car seat for one’s child which the NHTSA lists below:

1. Find the right car seat
2. Install your seat correctly
3. Keep your child safe in a car seat

There are four different types of car seats the administration advises parents and caregivers to be familiar with — rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, a booster seat and a seat belt.

Below is a chart of car seat recommendations by age:

To find a car seat by using a child’s weight and height along with age, use the ‘Car Seat Finder’ provided by the administration.

The NHTSA notes that inspections are free in most cases, but the administration adds that certified child passenger safety technicians will be available at car seat check stations around the country to show how to install and use a car seat correctly for free this Saturday, September 21 — coining the day as ‘National Seat Check Saturday.’

To find an inspection station near you, click here .

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