AAA Northeast invites parents, pet parents, grandparents, and caregivers to National Seat Check Saturday on September 25, 2021, from 11:00am-3:00pm at AAA Northeast Headquarters located at 110 Royal Little Drive in Providence. This goal of this free event is to make sure all parents and caregivers are correctly using the right car seats (rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, or booster seats) or seat belts for their children’s ages and sizes. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research shows that nearly half (46%) of car seats are misused. AAA Northeast is partnering with the Rhode Island State Police, Safe Kids RI, Lifespan, and Dorel Juvenile Group to provide car seat and booster seat checks, information about choosing and installing safety seats for children based on their age and size. Additionally, education stations will teach caregivers about preventing vehicular heat stroke, a risk to young children and pets, and how to properly harness dogs in vehicles.
“We know parents and caregivers have a lot on their plates, so we hope this free event will be an opportunity to ensure your human or furry children are safe in their car seat, booster seat, or harness,” said Diana Gugliotta, Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Programs for AAA Northeast. “Almost half of car seats are misused, and a simple mistake in harnessing your child or installing the seat can make the difference between life and death. Two children under 13 died in vehicles in 2019. No parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to a child’s safety.”
According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of two children under 13 were killed and an estimated 374 were injured every day in 2019 while riding in vehicles. Gugliotta added, “Using age and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce these child deaths. Additionally, we want parents to leave this event with education, resources, and skills that can positively impact the safety of their communities. Anyone or anything that is not restrained in a vehicle crash becomes a projectile. It’s important to restrain our pets as well as our children-we know that caregivers’ decisions on safety have lasting and life-saving results.”
To find a Child Passenger Safety Technician in your community and to learn more information about child passenger safety, visit AAA.com/Safeseats.