Wake Human Services will hold six child safety seat check events during National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sunday, September 15, through Saturday, September 21, 2013, to assist parents and caregivers with keeping children safe in vehicles. Certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians will check car seats for proper installation at the following locations:
| Date and time | Location | Address |
| Monday, September 16, 2-4 p.m. | Southern Regional Center | 130 N. Judd Parkway, Fuquay-Varina |
| Tuesday, September 17, 2-4 p.m. | Millbrook Center | 2809 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh |
| Wednesday, September 18, 2-4 p.m. | Northern Regional Center | 350 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest |
| Thursday, September 19, 2-4 p.m. | Sunnybrook Health Center | 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh |
| Friday, September 20, 2-4 p.m. | Eastern Regional Center | 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon |
| *Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Knightdale Target | 1000 Shoppes at Midway Drive |
*In partnership with Knightdale Fire and Rescue and Wake County Safe Kids
“The best way to protect your kids is to put them in the right car seats for their age and size, and use their seats correctly on every trip, every time,” said Suzanne LeDoyen, Wake County’s Buckle-Up Coordinator. “By attending one of the County’s car seat checks, parents and caregivers can be sure kids are riding as safely as possible.”
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one to 13. Crash data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that an average of three children, age 14 and younger, were killed and 469 were injured every day in the United States in motor vehicle crashes.
The NHTSA car seat recommendations state that parents and caregivers should keep children in their restraint type for as long as possible according to manufacturer’s instructions before moving them to the next type. For maximum safety, a parent or caregiver should have the car seat installation inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure their children are in the right seat for their age and size. Children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat.
In addition to the scheduled events, the public may make a free appointment anytime Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Wake County Human Services Permanent Checking Station, or by calling 919-250-3989. The station is located at 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh.
