Perla Cortez EDINBURG– The National Highway Safety Administration recently reported 65% percent of children who were involved in a car accident as of 2022, died due to not being properly restrained.
To spread awareness of car seat safety, the Edinburg Municipal Court created a car seat checkup drive-in event.
There are three main steps for installing a car seat to a vehicle:
The first step is to make sure the car seat is inside the vehicle. Next the seatbelt should be stretched through the gaps on the sides of the car seat and buckled in.
After, make sure the seatbelt is tightly connected with the car seat base. If the car seat is stable, then it is properly installed.
Afterward insert the car seat on top of the base, when the seat is attached properly it will produce a click sound which means it is ready to be used.
The National Highway Safety Administration Traffic Safety facts states that the death rate is reduced by 71% for children under a year old who are restrained.
Maribel Velasquez, Edinburg Municipal court administrator, said due to the rise of car accidents involving children without proper safety the municipal court hosted the event to spread awareness.
“I said, ‘You know what? What better way than to give back to the community, you know, one life that we save would be one too many,’” Velasquez said. “So, that would be a good, you know, positive impact that we would be doing in our community.”
When it comes to safety for children, parents or guardians should be the first to be aware of information about a car seat.
Esmeralda Rodriguez, an Edinburg resident who attended the event, said parents may not be aware of their children’s safety.
“I think this event is very important because not all of us know or have the means to buy a car seat,” Rodriguez said in Spanish. “We sometimes do not know how to install it [the car seat] properly and I think it’s very important to know, so that your baby is always safe.”
Before installing a car seat in your vehicle, make sure to check the following:
· Check the expiration date.
· Check for wear and tear.
· Match the car seat with the proper height and weight of your child
· Register your car seat at your nearest police station to receive any updates or recalls about the seat.
Noe Ponce, Edinburg police department patrolman No. 3, said parents should do research before purchasing a car seat.
“They can request to have a technician go out there and inspect it,” Ponce said. “We’ll correct it but well also teach and let them know that this is what you did, or this is how it is recommended for you to take care of this.”
