Parents/caregivers are reminded to bring the child with them if attending the "Seat Check Friday" event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today (Friday, Sept. 25) at the former National Guard armory, 409 S. Cossar Ave., in Charleston.
During the event, sponsored by the Mississippi State Department of Health, about 50 child safety seats and booster seats are being given away on a first-come, first-served basis. Available seats come in three styles — infant, high-back and booster.
MSDH on-site staff will select the seat that best fits the child's size. The MSDH staff also will install the seat in the vehicle today and make adjustments so that the seat belt fits the child properly. This is why it is necessary for parents/caregivers to bring the child for whom the seat is intended.
Pictured are the three styles of child safety seats being given away at the National Guard armory in Charleston. From left, they are booster seat, high-back seat and infant seat. (Photo by Clay McFerrin)
In addition to giving away seats, MSDH staff are conducting car seat checks to ensure that child safety seats already in vehicles are properly installed for optimal safety.
Charleston Mayor Sedrick Smith, who is present for today's event, reminds parents and caregivers that a properly installed and well-fitted car seat can mean the difference between a child's life and death in the event of an accident.
Sept. 20-26 is national Child Passenger Safety Week.
Representatives of Safe Kids Worldwide and Diaper Bank of the Delta also are in attendance at the event. Safe Kids offers child safety literature while the Diaper Bank of the Delta is giving away a limited amount of baby wipes, diapers, etc. — again, on a first-come, first-served basis.
