Police Bulletin Police Bulletin (February 10, 2006)

Buckling up baby
by Carol Bogart

Two-thirds of children ages 6 and under killed in California traffic collisions in any given year were not properly secured in a child safety seat, according to the California Highway Patrol. To educate parents about the importance of properly protecting small children, the CHP is using a $1.7-million federal grant to offer how-to presentations and hands-on learning.

The Pleasanton/Dublin car seat inspections will include both car seat critiques and how to properly secure them. Six trained technicians will be on hand for hour-on-the-hour demonstrations from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 18. An appointment is required.

Because people may not realize their child safety seat is installed incorrectly, the workshops show parents how to properly secure their child using their own safety seat in their own vehicle.

"The corrective action needed may be very minor, but will result in great benefits in increasing children's safety," said Pleasanton-based CHP officer Steve Creel.

The grant will fund at least 300 safety presentations and five check-up events statewide. The CHP's Child Safety Seat Fitting Stations will give out more than 7,000 safety seats to parents whose seats don't measure up to current safety standards.

To make an appointment, call 828-0466. Demonstrations will take place at CHP headquarters located in Dublin at 4999 Gleason Dr. Technicians will be in the back, in a side lot, or under shelter if it rains.
About "booster" seats

Children should start using a booster seat when they grow out of their child safety seats (usually when they weigh about 40 pounds), according to the Centers for Disease Control. They should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are 4'9" tall. To be properly secured, children require a lap and shoulder belt combination. Belt-positioning booster seats raise children up so that this belt combination fits correctly. All children should ride in the back seat until they are 12.

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