September 10, 2019
NORTON, Kan. – Norton County Hospital and Norton Medical Clinic are offering the sixth annual Car Seat Check Lane on Saturday, Sept. 21st, 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 1 to 3 p.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 Norton Fire Department, Norton Police Department and Norton County Sheriff’s Office officials, who will be on hand to visit with children and allow them to see the emergency vehicles.
Sept. 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week, and Sept. 21st is National Seat Check Saturday. According to Traffic Safety Marketing, one child under the age of 13 in a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash every 32 seconds in 2017. Many times, injuries and deaths can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, data shows that:
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.
“We receive many questions about the next step in seat usage, for example, from convertible to high back booster or to backless booster,” Cornelius said. “We checked 20 seats last year despite the cold, rainy weather.”
Each fall, Norton County Hospital and Norton Medical Clinic choose 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. Thus far, prizes that participants could win include a hanging lamp from Thistle valued at $125 (grand prize), $30 gift certificate from Designs by Haley – Haley Schoenberger, 30-oz. skinny cup from Juenbugs – Megan Juenemann, gift bundle from Dirt Road Designs and Tantastic Notes – Staci and Tana Breiner, and a 30-minute massage from Charla Sprigg, Back in Balance Massage. 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.
To enter, participants of the check lane must attend the event and answer this question: Where can you find information about the allowance for using the seatbelt and/or LATCH system to install your child restraint into your vehicle?
Those interested in getting a car seat checked but cannot make the Sept. 21st 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 Bliss, registered nurse; and Angie Annon, licensed practical nurse.
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