Is Your Car Seat Installed Properly? Get a Car Seat Check

The majority of child safety seats are improperly installed, putting children and babies at risk. During Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21), Snohomish County Fire District 1 is encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure they are properly securing their children by scheduling a free child car seat check.

“Correct use is crucial. Many parents move their children up to the next type of car seat before it is safe to do so. That’s why hands-on inspections and instruction are so important,” said Kim Schroeder in a news release, a certified child passenger safety technician and public educator for Fire District 1.

The goal of National Child Passenger Safety Week is to make sure parents and caregivers are securing their children in the best car restraint for their age and size:

• Booster seats: Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually when the child is at least 4' 9" tall)

• Back seat until age 13: When children outgrow their booster seats, they should be restrained in the seat belts in the back seat, until at least 13 years of age. This is a state law. 

Fire District 1 offers free child car seat checks by appointment once a month. To make an appointment, contact Schroeder, (425) 551-1254, kschoeder@firedistrict1.org.

Fire District 1 is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical services in Snohomish County, with full-time staffing at 12 fire stations. The department serves nearly 200,000 residents in unincorporated south Snohomish County, Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway.