By: Juhi Varma Katy News Journalist
A car seat looks simple enough, but choosing the right one for a child — and making sure it is properly installed — can involve more than buckling a few straps.
Families got some hands-on help Wednesday from the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department when Safe Kids Greater Houston held a child passenger safety event at Willowfork Fire Department No. 2. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trained technicians helped caregivers determine whether their car seats were appropriate for their children’s height, weight and age.
Safe Kids Greater Houston, led by Texas Children’s Hospital, was established in 1998.
Lia Hales, Community Risk Reduction specialist with Willowfork Fire Department, said caregivers are taught how to install seats, position and adjust harnesses and make changes as their children grow.
The technicians conducting the inspections are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, or CPSTs. Certification requires a 40-hour training course.
“There are SUVs and there are small cars,” said Hales, who is also a CPST. “Also, there are some 10-year-olds that are so tall they don’t even need a booster, and some that are still tiny.”
Specialized measuring boards and scales were on hand to help technicians determine, among other things, whether a child is ready to transition to a booster seat.
“These are the general statistics —out of five parents, four install their car seat incorrectly,” said Gerard Argao, received his certification in 2006.
That session was particularly timely for one expectant mother. She wanted to make sure her vehicle was ready before the baby arrived.
Technicians used an infant-sized doll to demonstrate how a newborn should be secured.
Among the common problems technicians encounter are seats that are not fitted tightly enough, harnesses positioned at the wrong height and parents using an incorrect belt path after moving a child from rear-facing to forward-facing.
Another mistake is using the vehicle’s lower anchors and seat belt simultaneously when the installation calls for one system rather than both.
A properly installed seat should generally move less than one inch when checked at the belt path.
Technicians remained brand-neutral, emphasizing instead proper fit and installation.
Free car seats available for qualifying families
Some families arrived with their own seats and simply wanted technicians to check them. Car seats were also available for qualifying families who needed one.
“Unfortunately, we see car seats that are installed incorrectly, or kids are not in a car seat,” said Hales.
The donated seats at Wednesday’s event were practical, no-frills models — predominantly simple black seats designed to get the job done.
Safe Kids Greater Houston distributes approximately 1,000 to 1,300 car seats annually across Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties, said Nicole Peake, representing Texas Children’s Hospital.
The effort receives grant and corporate support from organizations including Texas Children’s, State Farm and Hyundai, she said.
“If they need a car seat, they do have to qualify, and be on some type of government assistance, CHIP, Medicaid, food stamps, anything like that,” Peake said. “They must need a seat, that is, they might not have a car seat or maybe the one they’re using is expired or not appropriate for that sized child. And then we either replace their current car seat or provide a new one.”
If you are interested in acquiring a free car seat, first book an appointment at a Safe Kids event. Free seats are limited, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and both the child and the vehicle must be present for the appointment.
The Safe Kids Worldwide is a network of more than 600 coalitions across the country.
The Greater Houston coalition addresses several major areas of childhood injury prevention, including child passenger safety, home and fire safety, water safety, pedestrian safety and wheeled-sports safety.
Future car seat events at Willowfork Fire Department No. 2 are tentatively planned for the third Wednesday of each month. Families can find participating locations and schedule appointments through the Safe Kids Greater Houston website.
“The information that you learn is shocking actually, because I myself have grown children and I’ve realized all the things now with my grandchildren that I need to now do correctly,” said Hales.
“It takes a village,” said Peake. “When you become a parent, you don’t always know everything. So that’s why we’re here.”
