SHERIFF’S OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents and caregivers to ensure that their child’s safety seats are properly installed as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which is being held from September 19th to September 25th. In an effort to promote awareness on the proper use of child safety restraints, the Sheriff’s Office will provide a demonstration along with information on child safety seats at Kids America Day, a health and safety fair, in Wall Township, September 25, from 10am to 2pm at the Wall Municipal Building Courtyard. “We are happy to be a part of Child Passenger Safety Week,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Safety is our top priority at the Sheriff’s Office and we want to ensure that children are properly restrained every time they ride in a car.”
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office SAFE Cargo (Children And Restraints Go Together) program educates parents on the proper use of safety seats and conducts a monthly child seat installation check at the Monmouth County garage, located at 240 Center Street, near Kozloski Rd. in Freehold. Specially trained Sheriff’s Officers check the make, model and manufacturer’s number of child seats for possible recall, inspect car seat anchors and stabilize seats with additional padding to prevent rocking. The next scheduled inspection will take place on October 7th 2010. Since the program began more than 5,000 cars have been inspected. “I’m proud the Sheriff’s Office is a leader in providing safety seat inspections throughout the year,” said Sheriff Golden.
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Participates in Child Passenger Safety Week
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from ages 3 to 14.
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, it’s important for parents and caregivers to refer to the following 4 Steps for Kids NHTSA guidelines that determine which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size.
1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds.
2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9″ tall).
4. When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9″ tall) they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).
Remember: All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
