August 27, 2013
On Thursday, August 29, 2013 the Fort Myers Police Department along with Safe Kids of Lee and Collier Counties will hold a free child safety seat check. The event will take place at Lee Memorial Hospital located at 2776 Cleveland Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Officers who are certified child passenger safety technicians will assist parents and caregivers with the following:
- Inspect the child restraint for recalls, note obvious errors, and obtain a history.
- Confirm that the child restraint is correct for the size, weight and age of the child.
- Provide hands-on instruction on how to install and use the child restraint in the vehicle.
- Offer guidance or demonstrate how to correctly place a child in the child restraint.
- Answer questions parents or caregivers may have about passenger safety.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Additionally child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.
FMPD received a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to purchase a trailer that is designed as a mobile fitting station. The trailer allows officers to store and transport equipment, supplies and child safety seats needed to educate the community through various outreach programs and events. NHTSA says 3 out of 4 car seats aren’t installed properly – is yours? Citizens are welcome to stop by to ensure they have the right fit. This event and other patrol operations are scheduled as part of the Fort Myers Police Department’s strategic plan and on-going efforts to make the streets safer by educating the public on traffic safety issues.
Shelly Flynn Public Information Officer Fort Myers Police Department239-321-7721