For Immediate Release

Monday, Sept. 24, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Saugus Police Offering Free Child Safety Seat Inspections

SAUGUS — Chief Ronald Giorgetti is pleased to announce that the Saugus Police Department will be offering free car seat checks and installations to members of the community this weekend.

The Saugus Police Department’s certified child safety seat technicians will be available at the police station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, to provide free seat inspections and educational information to parents and guardians. The event is part of National Seat Check Saturday, and will include instruction on how to install and use car seats correctly.

Anyone interested in having their car seat inspected during the event should make an appointment with Detective Stacey Forni in advance by calling 781-941-1190. Residents who cannot attend Saturday’s event may make an appointment for another date by contacting Detective Forni.

Technicians can help determine if your car seat is appropriate for your child, depending on their age and size, and can also explain the importance of registering car seats with their manufacturers so that families can be informed of any recalls.

“Keeping your children safe is always a top priority and the most important responsibility for any parent,” Detective Forni said. “Choosing the right car seat, booster seat or seat belt is a critical part of fulfilling that responsibility, since having the right equipment can make all of the difference in avoiding a tragedy on the road.”

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that nearly two out of three car seats are misused.

“The easiest way to keep your children safe while they’re in the car is to ensure that their car seats a properly installed,” Chief Giorgetti said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to have one of our specially trained officers examine your child’s car seat and help make sure they’re protected.”

In 2015, a child under 13 was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 33 seconds. More than 1/3 of children 12 and younger who died in crashes in 2016 were unbuckled, according to the NHTSA.

National Seat Check Saturday is part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from
September 23-29, 2018. The week is dedicated to teaching parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.

NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing in vehicles for as long as possible, up to the top height and weight allowed by particular seats, since it’s the most effective way to keep them safe. Once a child outgrows a rear-facing seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and a tether. Once they’ve outgrown a forward facing seat, children should be placed in a booster seat.

The safest place for all kids under age 13 is in the back seat.

For more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other car seat check events, go to nhtsa.gov/carseat.

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