Farmersville parents and caregivers can ensure their children’s car seats are safe and properly installed during a free inspection event hosted by the Farmersville Fire Department from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

At the event, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand to perform safety checks, provide advice on proper installation and ensure each child is in the correct seat for their age and size.

The event coincides with National Seat Check Saturday, which wraps up Child Passenger Safety Week. The safety week, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), runs from Sept. 15-21 each year.

“Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats,” said Penny Phillips, Farmersville Fire Department’s Community Outreach and Risk Reduction Specialist. “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 2022, an average of three children aged 14 and younger were killed in crashes each day, and 429 more were injured. Additionally, 39% of children who died in crashes were not restrained at all.

Phillips urged parents to take the opportunity to double-check their car seats.

“We know parents love their kids, 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,” she said.

NHTSA data shows that larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks do not offer better protection for unbuckled children. In fact, more than half (52%) of children killed in crashes involving pickup trucks in 2022 were not restrained. Using the correct car seat or booster seat is essential for safety, regardless of vehicle size.

Children should remain in each stage of car seat until they outgrow the size and weight limits, and all children under 13 should sit in the back seat.

Parents can also schedule a car seat inspection by emailing Phillips at [email protected].

For more information on child passenger safety or to find additional car seat check events, visit [NHTSA.gov/therightseat](https://www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat).

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