Child Safety Seat Checkup in Hope on Saturday

The child safety seat check up event is a free opportunity to have trained technicians determine if a child is riding as safely as possible, or if changes in positioning or seat use could help them to be safer.

The Hope Police Department is sponsoring this event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Unity Baptist Church, 402 South Hervey Street in Hope, Ark.

Walk-ins are welcome, and will be checked on a first-come, first-served basis. If it is determined that a child needs a different seat to ride more safely, a seat will be provided for a donation, subject to seat availability.

It is very important that all children be checked to make sure they are riding as safe as possible. Come out to learn whether their children would be safer with a booster seat. Please bring your instruction book for the child safety seat and your vehicle owner’s manual, if available.

Kim Tomlin, Hope Assistant Police Chief, said, "More than 90 percent of the car seats checked have one or more errors. Please bring child, their car seat and your primary vehicle to be sure your seat and child are property secured."

According to Arkansas Law, "Children under 5 years old and under 60 pounds must be secured in a federally approved car seat or booster."

The University of Arkansas for Medical Science online states:

It is estimated that 85-95% of children who are placed in child safety seats and booster seats are not properly restrained.

By Arkansas law, all children 6 years old or under 6o pounds are required to be in a car seat. Infants should ride facing the back of the car until they have reach at least 12 months old and weight at least 20 pounds. Many convertible seats can rear face up to 35 pounds. The longer a child can ride rear facing, the safer he/she is.

It is a good idea for you to use a belt positioning booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt to help protect your child until he/she is big enough to use a seat belt properly, usually 4’8” to 4’10”. Shield boosters used only with lap belts are not safe for children over 40 pounds. Children under 40 pounds should use a convertible or forward-facing seat.