Service begins in March
“In a focus on child safety, risk reduction and community engagement,” the Sarasota County Fire Department will offer a child passenger safety program, “providing another lifesaving service to the Sarasota County community,” county staff has announced.
“According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 325 children under the age of 5 were saved by car seats in one year,” a news release points out. “In passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers,” the release adds.
During the monthly child safety seat inspections, the Fire Department’s Child Passenger Safety Technician-qualified personnel “will teach you how to use and install a car seat on your own and check to make sure your car seats are installed correctly,” the release notes.
“The child safety seat checks will begin in March”; each monthly inspection will be held at a different fire station in the county, in an effort to serve residents in the northern, southern and central county areas, the release adds.
“Inspections are free and by appointment only,” the release points out. “Appointments are expected to last approximately 30 minutes,” it says. Those who sign up for appointments will need to bring car seats with them, the release adds. However, the release says, the child who will be using the seat does not have to be in attendance for the inspection.
To learn more about how to schedule a car seat safety inspection, dial 311. More information on Sarasota County Fire Department programs may be found at scgov.net/fire.
“For more information on car seat safety or to register your car seat and booster seat with the car seat manufacturer so you can be notified in the event of a recall,” the release notes, visit nhtsa.gov/therightseat.