September 17, 2013
On Saturday, September 21, 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 coincides with Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15-21, 2013) and the” National Seat Check Saturday”, a public awareness initiative to remind parents and caregivers to make sure they are properly using and installing their child safety seats.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) car crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time and use it the right way. The local event will take place at Titan Insurance located at 3946 Cleveland Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. 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.
FMPD would like to thank Titan Insurance for sponsoring Saturday’s event and for providing giveaways for children. In addition, 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 Department
239-321-7721