Is your child's car seat installed correctly? Get free car seat inspections in Austin
In Texas, car crashes are the second leading cause of death in children behind firearms, according to statistics from the CDC. National Child Passenger Safety Week, observed the third week in September, is dedicated to sharing tips on how to keep children safe while driving and Austin is providing free seat inspections.
From 1999 to 2020, around 2,882 children died in Texas motor vehicle accidents, according to the CDC. Nationally, 710 children under 13 were killed in passenger vehicles in 2021, and more than 100,000 were injured. The United States Department of Transportation, created the weeklong observation, to inform people on how to ensure children's safety and push back against these numbers.
Child passenger safety tips
Find the right-sized seat for your child and know the proper seats for their age. Many kids 8 to 12 years old may still need to use a booster seat. Replace these seats when they outgrow the limits specified on the chair. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a website where users can input their children's information to find the right seat.
Only use a regular seat when they are big enough for an adult seat belt to fit them. A properly fitted belt should lie snuggly across the chest and shoulders, not crossing the face or neck.
Make sure you properly install rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats. The NHTSA has instructions for proper installation for all the different models.
Register your car seat by filling out and sending a form with NHTSA. This will ensure you are quickly notified about any seat recalls or defects.
Where in Austin can I get my child's car seat installed for free?
As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week, centers nationwide will provide free inspections and installations from certified child passenger safety technicians. In Austin, Safe Kids Austin will be at Dell Children's Medical Center, 4900 Mueller Blvd., at the Lower Level of Blue Garage. They will be set up from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sept. 23 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to get free car seat inspections in Austin and more safety tips
