Palmyra Kiwanis to conduct child car seat check Saturday at fire station

PALMYRA, Mo. — The Palmyra Kiwanis is taking on car seat safety by sponsoring a child car seat check from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 8 at the Palmyra Fire Station. 

Certified technicians will conduct safety checks. A trained technician will be on site to teach the best way to install and correctly use your car seat.

Stacey Nicholas, president of the Palmyra Kiwanis, suggests bringing the child who uses the car seat.

Keeping kids safe on the road is a top priority, but many parents might not know they are not properly installing them or buckling them in. The results can be deadly.

Nicholas said the number of vehicles and safety seat models on the market complicates the installation and use of car seats.

The CDC website reports a 2011 study of children who were riding in cars and observed by researchers who estimated that 46 percent of car seats and booster seats are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness.

The most common mistakes reported by the CDC were:

• Incorrect recline angle for rear-facing car seats
• Loose installation for all car seats
• Loose harness for all car seats
• Harness behind child’s arms, legs, or back in forward-facing car seats
• Improper lap belt position for booster seats
• Improper shoulder belt position for booster seats

“Buckling up is the single most effective way adults can protect themselves and passengers in a crash. It is extremely important to make sure all children riding in a car are properly secured before every trip,” Nicholas said. “Kiwanis is dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Local clubs are tasked with looking for ways to positively impact the lives of children in their communities. This car seat safety check is one way our club fulfills that mission.” 

For each car seat checked during the event, the family will receive one opportunity to win a $100 gift card to County Market.