September 11, 2018
NORTON, Kan. – Norton County Hospital and Norton Medical Clinic are offering the fifth annual Car Seat Check Lane on Saturday, Sept. 29 th, at the employee parking lot located across from the hospital at the corner of Highway 36 and Norton Avenue. The free event will be hosted from 9 to 11 a.m.
Staff who are certified child passenger safety technicians will be performing the checks. Joining the technicians will be Norton County EMS, as well as local fire and law enforcement officials, who will be on hand to visit with children and allow them to see the emergency vehicles.
Sept. 23-29 is Child Passenger Safety Week, and Sept. 29th is National Seat Check Saturday. The events are meant to bring awareness to car seat safety. Crashes are a leading cause of death among children 1 to 13 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Traffic Safety Marketing. On average, two children under age 13 were killed per day in 2016 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans. Many times, deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts.
Cami Cornelius, a certified nursing assistant and certified child passenger safety technician at Norton Medical Clinic, encourages all families with children to attend. Participants should come to the event with a car seat and the owner’s manual for their vehicle, which often helps with proper installation. The technician can check to ensure the seat is installed properly, has proper stickers and displays no damage, stress marks or fraying at the harness that could lead to a safety concern. The technician will also check if the car seat has any recalls.
“Sometimes installations can be tricky,” said Cornelius. “Drivers aren't sure if the seat is in tight enough, or they might have trouble getting a tight fit. They might not know which system to use, seat belt or LATCH, and they even have questions on placement of the car seat. Last year, we were able to check 25 car seats and are hopeful to have another great turn out this year.”
Each fall, Norton County Hospital and Norton Medical Clinic chooses to recognize the importance of car seats, and ensure they are safe and secure to protect children. Providing safety information and car seat instructions to parents and caregivers – such as grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and babysitters – is important in saving young lives.
There is no need to RSVP for the event. Anyone is welcome to attend, even those who reside outside of Norton County. Another feature of the event is giveaways. The grand prize giveaway is a two-month membership to Define Gym in Norton. To enter, participants of the check lane must attend the event and answer this question: Who is nationally certified to check/install car seats in Norton County?
Participants can enter to win other prizes at the event as well. Organizers will do the drawing after the event, and winners will be notified. There is no need to be present at the drawing to win. Prize donations acquired thus far include: T-shirt or bag from Designs by Haley – Haley Schoenberger, Back in Balance 30-minute massage by Charla Sprigg, Juenbugs 20-oz. customized tumbler by Megan Juenemann and classic pedicure by Janet Jilka at E11even.
Those interested in getting a car seat checked but cannot make the Sept. 29th event should call the Norton County Hospital at 785-877-3351 or Norton Medical Clinic at 785-877-3305 and ask to schedule an appointment with one of the certified child passenger safety technicians, who include Cornelius, as well as Klare Givens, registered nurse; and Angie Annon, licensed practical nurse.
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