CHAMBERSBURG The Franklin County sheriff’s office has announced that certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be offering free car seat safety checks on Seat Check Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Franklin County Judicial Center, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg.
The event is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 21-27, which culminates in National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 27. Technicians will be available at the Franklin County Judicial Center to help parents and caregivers determine the correct seats for their children and demonstrate how to correctly install and use those seats.
“Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats,” said Franklin County Sheriff Benjamin Sites. “They think they’re protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child’s age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk.”
According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. In 2023, an average of two children under the age of 14 were killed in crashes every day, and another 345 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.
“We know parents love their kids,” added Sites, “so they’ll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats. It’s worth making sure.”
When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage – from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified child passenger safety technician can put parents’ minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and by showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle.
Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat, and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.
Parents and caregivers who cannot attend the Sept. 27 seat check event but would still like to have their car seats checked can make an appointment with the Franklin County sheriff’s office technicians. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Franklin County Judicial Center by calling 717-261-3877 or emailing [email protected].
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. They can also download NHTSA’s SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat and tire information in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send the user a notification.
For more information on child passenger safety, readers may visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat.
