State Farm, city help with child safety seats

For The Herald Bulletin

May 09, 2008 08:28 pm

— ANDERSON — State Farm will sponsor its eighth annual State Farm Child Safety Day on Saturday, May 17, in 13 locations across Indiana.
The Anderson public safety event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Wal-Mart parking lot, 4420 Scatterfield Road, northeast of 53rd Street. Officers from the Anderson Police Department will also be on site to encourage the public safety initiative.
Parents will be able to get a free child car seat checkup from a certified inspector. Free child safety seats will be distributed to those whose seats do not meet safety requirements. Inspectors have taken a National Highway and Traffic Safety certified class and must complete a 32-hour classroom and practicum program to earn this certification from NHTSA.
State Farm's findings from car safety seat checks in 2007 revealed startling results. Out of 503 inspections in Indiana only 21 percent were installed correctly.
Some of the most common mistakes parents make when their children ride in a car are:
• Failing to adequately tighten a car seat/booster seat in the vehicle.
• Not tightening the harness straps around the child.
• Using a seat belt only for kids ages 4-8. Generally, they should use a belt positioning-booster seat.
• Allowing children under the age of 12 to ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
• Improper positioning of the chest clip.
For more information about the event, visit www.statefarm.com/kidsafety.html