September 15, 2020
NORTON, Kan. – Norton County Hospital and Norton Medical Clinic are offering the seventh annual Car Seat Check Lane on Saturday, Sept. 26th, at the Norton Medical Clinic parking lot located at 807 N. State St. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., by appointment only.
Sept. 20-26 is Child Passenger Safety Week, and Sept. 26th is National Seat Check Saturday. According to Traffic Safety Marketing, every 32 seconds in 2018, one child under the age of 13 in a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash. Many times, injuries and deaths can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts.
Parents and caregivers in Norton County and the surrounding region are welcome to set up an appointment by calling Klare Bliss at Norton County Hospital – 785-874-2226. At the event, participants are welcome to ask questions and receive hands-on instruction from certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on how to choose, correctly install, and use car seats and booster seats. Two technicians are currently on staff at Norton County Hospital and include Klare Bliss and Dan Dole.
The technicians will be available to teach parents and caregivers how to choose the right car seat for a child’s age and size, how to correctly install the seat in their vehicle and how to use that seat correctly every time. They will also discuss the importance of registering car seats in case of a recall. Participants should come to their appointment with the car seat(s) and the owner’s manual for their vehicle, which often helps with proper installation.
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.
This year will be different from past years due to COVID-19. Making it an appointment-only event allows for limiting the number of people and decreasing potential exposure, and it also ensures each family gets the techs’ full attention. Appointment times may vary based on the number of seats being checked per appointment. Also, no emergency staff and vehicles will be available like years past. The techs are working on ways to still make this a fun and safe event for children and families.
For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, including campaign details and event locations, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.
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