EDINBURG — When children in their car seats are inspected by safety experts, most are not properly restrained, according to Joanne Ureste, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family resources agent for Hidalgo County.
“Child passenger safety seat checkups routinely show four out of five children are not properly restrained either in their child safety seat or in the safety belt system,” she said. “The problem usually has to do with using the wrong seat for a particular car or truck. And this is very disturbing because the most precious cargo a person can ever transport is their children.”
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 13-19, AgriLife Extension will host two free programs to help parents and caregivers save lives and reduce injuries to children in the event of a car crash.
“Both events have the goal of educating adults about the best way to keep kids safe while traveling,” Ureste said. “If car seats do not pass inspection, participants may have the opportunity to receive a free car seat.”
The first event will be held from 9 a.m.- noon Sept. 16 at the AgriLife Extension office for Hidalgo County at 410 N. 13th Ave. in Edinburg.
The second will be held from 9 a.m.- noon Sept. 18 at the Alamo Community Center, 1429 S. Tower Road in Alamo.
“These are excellent opportunities to learn the best way to install child safety seats,” Ureste said. “Installing them properly provides the parents with peace of mind and their children with the best possible protection in case of an emergency.”
To ensure sufficient time with an expert, Ureste encourages parents to make an appointment at one of the two scheduled events. She also suggests bringing the car safety seat manual as well as the car owner’s manual, if possible.
Appointments can be made by calling the AgriLife Extension office at 956-383-1026.
Free car seats will be provided while supplies last by the Safe Riders Traffic Safety Program, sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation.