Busy Child Passenger Safety Seat Check Today

Three car seat technicians busy with over twenty appointments this morning at our Community Services Building in Aspen Hill.  ABC7 and News Channel 8 were there for a live interview at 9:30 with our Child Passenger Safety Program Manager Emilie Crown as well. 

The interview will be shown again during the 4 PM news hour on Channel 7.

Child Passenger Safety

This weeks theme for our Summer of Safety program is Child Passenger Safety.  Below, please find a variety of useful information as it relates to Infant and Child car seat safety.

Infant & Child Car Seat Safety

Frequently Asked Questions

Carseat and Parent Info ( NHTSA)

Car Seat Fact Sheets

•  Selecting the Right Car Seat (PDF, 435 KB)
•  Installing Your Child's Car Seat Tightly (PDF, 657 KB)
•  Check Your Child's Car Seat! (PDF, 407 KB)

Car Seat Inspection Station Locations

To schedule an appointment call 240-777-2223. There can be a 2-3 week wait so plan ahead. Please contact Emilie Crown, Program Manager, at 240-777-2467 for any other issues. Need to have a car seat installed/checked/inspected? Montgomery County residents may click here to schedule an appointment.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am - Noon

1st Saturday of the month 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

By appointment only at SAFE KIDS Montgomery County MD, Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
14111 Georgia Avenue (behind 7-11), Aspen Hill, MD 20906

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Thursday Evenings 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

3rd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

By appointment only at Criswell Chevrolet
503 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

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Wednesdays 8:00 am - Noon

2nd Saturday of the month 8:00 am - Noon

By appointment only at Great Beginnings Children's Store
18501 North Frederick Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

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Child Seat Laws & Seat Check Information

•  MD Child Safety Seat Law (PDF)
• Inspection Station Flyer 
• Directions to Seat Checks
•  5-Step Booster Seat Check (PDF)

Our goal is to ensure that the children of Montgomery County are properly secured in car seats and seat belts while traveling. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children under 15. The inspection stations are sponsored by the Montgomery County Fire Rescue and SAFE KIDS Montgomery County. Montgomery County Car Seat Inspection Stations are for Montgomery County Residents only. Non-county residents are welcome to participate in Fitzgerald Auto Mall's monthly (no appointment needed) seat check in Rockville. Call Montgomery County's Child Passenger Safety Hotline, 240-777-2222 to get the next date and phone numbers for other inspection sites.

It's Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept 15 - 21, 2013)

This week is Child Passenger Safety Week!  Below, please find some resources and information we hope you find useful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carseat and Parent Info ( NHTSA)

Car Seat Fact Sheets

•  Selecting the Right Car Seat (PDF, 699 KB)
•  Installing Your Child's Car Seat Tightly (PDF, 1.21 MB)
•  Check Your Child's Car Seat! (PDF, 1.69 MB)

Car Seat Inspection Station Locations

To schedule an appointment call 240-777-2223. There can be a 2-3 week wait so plan ahead. Please contact Emilie Crown, Program Manager, at 240-777-2467 for any other issues. Need to have a car seat installed/checked/inspected? Montgomery County residents may click here to schedule an appointment.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am - Noon

1st Saturday of the month 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

By appointment only at SAFE KIDS Montgomery County MD, Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
14111 Georgia Avenue (behind 7-11), Aspen Hill, MD 20906

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Thursday Evenings 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

3rd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

By appointment only at Criswell Chevrolet
503 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

---

Wednesdays 8:00 am - Noon

2nd Saturday of the month 8:00 am - Noon

By appointment only at Great Beginnings Children's Store
18501 North Frederick Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

---

Child Seat Laws & Seat Check Information

•  MD Child Safety Seat Law (PDF)
•  Inspection Station Flyer (PDF)
•  Directions to Seat Checks (PDF)
•  5-Step Booster Seat Check (PDF)

Our goal is to ensure that the children of Montgomery County are properly secured in car seats and seat belts while traveling. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children under 15. The inspection stations are sponsored by the Montgomery County Fire Rescue and SAFE KIDS Montgomery County. Montgomery County Car Seat Inspection Stations are for Montgomery County Residents only. Non-county residents are welcome to participate in Fitzgerald Auto Mall's monthly (no appointment needed) seat check in Rockville. Call Montgomery County's Child Passenger Safety Hotline, 240-777-2222 to get the next date and phone numbers for other inspection sites.

New Child Safety Seat Laws In Effect Today!

Please see the information below re new Child Safety Seat Laws for Maryland that start today.


MD Child Seat Law

Parents Still Making Five Common Mistakes When Using Car Seats

Note to Parents: Give Child Car Seats an Annual Checkup

Montgomery County, Maryland – Parents are making five critical, but fixable, mistakes when using car seats, according to new data announced today by Safe Kids Worldwide and the General Motors Foundation. With so many safety features now available in both cars and car seats, parents are urged to make sure their kids are getting every advantage by taking the time to do a 15-minute at-home annual checkup.

Seventy-three percent of car seats are not being used correctly. To find out why, Safe Kids analyzed data from more than 100,000 car seat inspections done by certified technicians conducted through its Buckle Up Program, a national initiative established in 1997 by Safe Kids and supported by General Motors and the General Motors Foundation to keep children and families safe in and around cars.

"Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading killer of children ages one to thirteen," said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. "Montgomery County, led by the fire and rescue service, has been committed for years to helping keep children safe from injury by making child safety seat inspections available. I would encourage everyone to take a couple of minutes today to review these important safety tips. Bottom line, lives are depending on it.”      

The data revealed that parents and caregivers have some work to do to ensure their children are restrained properly. Five safety steps every parent should take include keeping their children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, ideally until age two, selecting the correct seat for the weight, height or age of the child, tightening the harness enough and knowing when to let kids ride in the front seat.

“Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent,” said Emilie Crown, Safe Kids Coalition for Montgomery County. “Engineers are working hard to ensure cars and car seats are designed to keep kids as safe as possible. But it’s up to every parent to take full advantage of these innovations by making sure car seats are used and installed correctly. Safe Kids and the General Motors Foundation are teaming up to show them how.”

In a nationwide effort to educate parents about the importance of car seat safety during Child Passenger Safety Week (September 16-22), Safe Kids and the General Motors Foundation are asking every parent to take 15 minutes for an at-home car seat checkup using the Safe Kids downloadable checklist.

Car Seat Checkup Checklist

ð       Right Seat. This is an easy one. Check the label on your car seat to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height. Like milk, your car seat has an expiration date. Just double check the label on your car seat to make sure it is still safe. 

ð       Right Place. Kids are VIPs, just ask them. We know all VIPs ride in the back seat so keep all children in the back seat until they are 13. 

ð       Right Direction. You want to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, usually until around age 2. When he or she outgrows the seat, move your child to a forward-facing car seat. Make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower anchors. Continue to use a booster seat until your child properly fits in the seat belt, usually when they are between the ages of 8 and 12.

ð       Inch Test. Once your car seat is installed, give it a good shake at the base. Can you move it more than an inch side to side or front to back? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.

ð       Pinch Test. Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual). Now, with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.   

The at-home checklist is meant to be a first step. Parents are encouraged to read the vehicle and car seat instruction manuals to help with the checklist. Parents are also encouraged to bring their car, car seat and child to a Safe Kids Buckle Up event in their area. Safe Kids will host more than 500 car seat inspection events across the country throughout September. Montgomery County hosts five seat check events every week of the year. Visit our website at www.mcfrs.org or safekids.org for more information.

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our children, and we’re encouraged by the progress that is being made,” said Mike Robinson, Vice President, Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs for General Motors. “To ensure that our children – our most precious cargo – are safe in cars, we recommend parents take 15 minutes to check their child’s car seat annually. Our children visit the doctor every year for an annual check-up, we need to give their car seats an annual check-up, too. This quick checkup could save a life.”

For parents who want additional information, assistance or to schedule an appointment should  contact the Montgomery County Safe Kids coalition for opportunities to have your car seat checked by a certified technician. You can find information at www.mcfrs.org.

About the Safe Kids Montgomery Coalition

Safe Kids Montgomery works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids Montgomery is composed of leaders of the community including representatives from fire and rescue, law enforcement, hospital partners, the Poison Control Center, nurses, the school system and other County government agencies. Safe Kids Montgomery is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Montgomery is led by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. For more information, visit safekids.org.

About the General Motors Foundation

Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

Are You Sure Your Child Is In The Right Car Seat?

As was posted here yesterday, this week is Child Passenger Safety Week! The theme: Is Your Child In The Right Car Seat? Please take a moment to watch the very brief video below from our friends at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  With the video in mind, do you feel you need to have a car seat installed/checked /inspected? Montgomery County residents may click here to schedule an appointment.

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week! Is Your Child In The Right Car Seat?

Hopefully everyone is aware that this week is Child Passenger Safety Week!  Did you know that car crashes are the number ONE killer of children ages 1 - 12 in the U.S?  A sad fact!

We want to make sure that all of our kids are riding in the correct car/booster seat to ensure maximum safety and well being.  Our friends at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have some great information regarding kids and car seats on their web site: Child Passenger Safety

If you have a young child PLEASE take a moment to review this potential life saving information!

As well, please visit our MCFRS Child Passenger Safety web site to learn more and find out how you can have your child safety seat installed by one of our certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians.

As always, have a SAFE day!

MCFRS, Mitsubishi Motors, Kids Safety First and Safe Kids Team Up to Conduct Car Safety Seat Check

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old. Each day in the U.S. an average of 4 children are killed in traffic crashes, 529 are injured and National data show that 73% of all child seats are misused.

With the busy summer travel season underway, Fire Chief Richard Bowers will be on hand to kick off the event and to accept a generous grant of $2000.00 from Mitsubishi Motors that will be used to purchase seats and host events in Montgomery County. At Saturday’s event, child passenger safety technicians from Montgomery County Fire Rescue and other volunteers will be available to inspect and install car seats and provide parents and caregivers with one-on-one instruction on how to properly use their child’s infant, toddler or booster seat. Scheduled appointments are preferred, but drop in appointments will be accommodated as well. Montgomery County has completed over 117,000 car seat inspections since March 2000 and has trained over 1,300 car seat technicians.

WHEN: July 23: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

WHERE: King Mitsubishi
16160 Frederick Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

For information on scheduling an appointment, please call 301-742-1850. The last car seat inspection will start at 1:30 p.m.

News From the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program

Safe Kids Montgomery County and Montgomery County Fire Rescue’s Car Seat Program are very pleased with the latest car seat recommendations developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that were released on March 21, 2011. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also revised their recommendations for release on the same day. The changes reflect what our car seat program has been advising caregivers to do for the past two and a half years. The policy encourages caregivers to slow the transition from one child restraint to the next. The biggest change for many is the recommendation that children should remain in rear-facing car seats until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for their car seat model, or at least the age of two. The new best practice recommendations are listed below. The AAP also suggests to pediatricians that they consult with certified car seat technicians for their expertise. If you have questions regarding these changes, please call Emilie Crown at 240-777-2467 or schedule an appointment with one of our certified car seat technicians by calling 240-777-2223.

· Best practice recommendation #1 states, “All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.”

· Best practice recommendation #2 states, “All children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their CSS, should use a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.”

· Best practice recommendation #3 states, “All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their CSS should use a belt-positioning-booster until the vehicle lap-and-shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.”

· Best practice recommendation #4 states, “When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.”

· Best practice recommendation #5 states, “All children younger than 13 years of age should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.”

Links for additional information:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS for information from NHTSA


http://www.healthychildren.org/English/News/pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats.aspx for more information from AAP

Infant & Child Car Seat Safety Information

As Chief Bowers has stated on numerous occasions, preventing the 9-1-1 call is our top priority. What does that mean?

For one it means helping folks to prevent fire in their home by providing fire prevention tips and going into the neighborhoods each Saturday knocking on doors, handing out tips, and checking smoke alarms.

As our Fire and Rescue personnel also provide ambulance service, it also means promoting healthy living habits and providing injury prevention information and programs. One of our best injury prevention programs is our Child Passenger Safety Seat (CPSS) program.

If you have young children, or grand children, please take a moment to visit our CPSS site to learn how to best keep your children safe in cars as well as schedule a child safety seat inspection/installation appointment.

Go here to learn more: Car Seat Safety Information

Embrace Life - Always Wear Your Seat Belt

I wanted to share a really powerful video from the UK, that has been out and about for a while now, that reminds us all we should always wear our seat belt.




Embrace Life (C)2010 Sarah Alexander/Daniel Cox/Sussex Safer Roads Partnership

Child Passenger Safety Week Is Wrapping Up.

Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 12- 18, is wrapping up. Please take a moment to review the below tips and information as well as possibly schedule an installation appointment!

Our goal is to ensure that the children of Montgomery County are properly secured in car seats and seat belts while traveling. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children under 15. The inspection stations are sponsored by the Montgomery County Fire Rescue and SAFE KIDS Montgomery County.

Car Seat Safety Information



Stay Safe out there!

Bill