Did you know that 95% of all car seats are incorrectly installed?

Sgt. Hissong and Dispatcher Andrews are Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and can help with correct installation of your car seat. They have completed a four-day course of instruction and extensive hands on testing. If you have any questions about Child Safety Seats contact Sgt. Hissong or Dispatcher Andrews at the department.

Some Tips For Keeping Kids Safe In A Motor Vehicle:

• Children less than one year and under 20 pounds MUST face the rear of the vehicle and they must be in the back seat of the vehicle. 
• NEVER put a rear-facing seat in front of an airbag.
• Effective 06/26/09 all children under the age of four years must ride in the back seat of a car in a car seat.  If the child is in a rear-facing car seat, they may be placed in the front seat ONLY if the passenger air bag is turned off and all rear seats are occupied by children under four years of age. 
• New legislation also prohibits removing a child from a car seat to nurse while the vehicle is in motion.
• Effective 07/01/09 until children are 8 years of age or 4 ft 9 inches in height, they must use a booster seat.   
• Seats need to be tightly installed in the vehicle. Once belted in, the seat should not move more than one inch when pulled at the belt path.
• Be sure the harness strap is fitted so that you cannot pinch extra webbing at the shoulder. 
• Do not place any excess clothing or blankets between the child and the harness straps. Best practice is to warm up the vehicle prior to placing the child in the seat so that a large coat is not necessary while in the car seat. Blankets can be wrapped around the child after the harness straps are adjusted properly.
• To check for a proper fitting seat belt, children must be able to sit upright in the vehicle seat with their knees bent at the edge of the seat. The lap belt must ride low on the hips and the shoulder belt fit over the shoulder, not cutting into the neck. If the seat belt does not fit properly the child should be using a booster seat.
• Reminder: No one should ride in a vehicle without a properly adjusted seat belt. The belt should be snug and low on the hips. The shoulder belt must NEVER be put behind the back or under the arm. Wearing your seat belt incorrectly can cause serious injury or death.