CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Health District will host a free car seat check event later this month, giving parents and caregivers the chance to have a certified technician inspect their child’s car or booster seat and correct any installation problems free of charge.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ireland Shelter House in Great Seal Park, according to a graphic shared by the Chillicothe Police Department. Every attendee will receive a free first aid kit from the health district.
The health district’s child passenger safety program uses certified child passenger safety technicians to examine seats for manufacturer recalls and confirm they are properly installed for a child’s specific vehicle, according to the health district. A typical inspection takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the district asks that a child’s legal guardian be present so the seat can be checked for proper fit.
Car seat misuse remains common nationally. More than 70% of car seats installed by families have at least one critical installation error, according to Akron Children’s Hospital, even though the vast majority of parents believe their seats are installed correctly. Booster seats, when used correctly, reduce the risk of serious injury in a crash by about 45% compared with a seat belt alone for children ages 4 to 8, the hospital says.
Beyond car seat checks, the Ross County Health District also administers the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program, which provides free convertible rear-facing seats and booster seats to income-eligible families who could not otherwise afford them. That program requires participants to be Ross County residents, attend a short educational class and meet weight requirements for the seat requested, according to the health district. The program does not provide infant carrier seats.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Chillicothe Police Department and the Ross County Health District.
