When a new baby arrives, families child-proof their homes and continue to adjust safety measures and rules for children as they grow older. It's just common sense. But sometimes doing the same for our vehicles can become an afterthought (or just one more expense that feels easier to avoid).
Our vehicles can be a dangerous place for children. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 756 kids were killed in passenger vehicles in 2022 in the United States, and approximately 120,000 were hurt.
Among the ways in which we can keep our children safer is using the proper car seats and booster seats for them. That means having the right size and type, installing them properly AND then using them properly.
During this Child Passenger Safety Week, agencies are working to remind parents of how best to do that.
"We hope that Child Passenger Safety Week will provide an opportunity for parents, grandparents, and other family members to learn best practices to ensure their child is as safe as possible when in a truck, car, SUV, or van," said Amy Boggs, child passenger safety program coordinator for the Governor's Highway Safety Program.
To that end, the GHSP will facilitate National Seat Check on Saturday, with stations throughout the state. But at any time, you can find your nearest fitting station here: highwaysafety.wv.gov, and click Child Passenger Safety.
"No parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to a child's safety," Boggs said.
"Don't wait for a crash to happen to find out if your child's seat is installed correctly. At that point, it's too late to check. Don't guess. Know that your child's seat is installed correctly."