Parents are urged to take advantage of free child safety seat inspections on Sept. 29 at locations throughout the state. Organized through the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force and University Medical Center New Orleans, the inspection program is part of National Seat Check Saturday and Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 23-29.
As research shows 92 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly in Louisiana, certified technicians will be at each location, ensuring proper installation. They also will install safety seats donated to previously approved families through a partnership with SONIC Drive-In. Employees of Louisiana’s 147 SONIC locations raised $60,000 through sales of the 2017 SONIC “Tot” calendar. Over the past three years, Louisiana SONIC employees have raised a total of $163,000, which paid for 1,850 car seats for qualified families in 2016 and 2017.
Seat Check Saturday takes place from 9 a.m.12 noon across the state at these locations:
Alexandria – Rapides Regional Trauma Center Medical Terrace, 211 Fourth St.
Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge Police Department, 9000 Airline Drive
Houma – Home Depot, 1717 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Kenner – Divine Mercy Church, 7337 Sal Lentini Parkway
Lafayette – Babies R’ Us, 5700 Johnston St.
Lake Charles – Southwest Beverage Co., 3860 Broad St.
Mandeville – Church of the King - Little Creek Campus, 22205 Little Creek Rd.
Monroe – Hixson Ford, 6300 Frontage Road
Shreveport – Sheriff’s Safety Town, 8910 Jewella St.
Research shows that safety seats and restraints are highly effective in preventing serious injury, yet car crashes remain a leading cause of death for children. In 2016, more than 1,000 children under age 13 were killed in car-related crashes ‒ nearly three deaths per day ‒ according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
“Safety seats save lives, but they must be installed correctly,” said Bridget Gardner, RN, community injury prevention program coordinator at UMC New Orleans. “We strongly encourage families to take advantage of these free checks, even if there’s the slightest question about proper installation.”