FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2014

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health is recognizing National Seat Check Saturday on September 20 and urges parents and guardians to get their car seats checked. Local car seat checkup events will be held across the state and Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on-hand to provide free education on how to use car seats, booster seats and seat belts for children. National Seat Check Saturday concludes Child Passenger Safety week which is September 14–20.

“We are committed to protecting children from injuries and death through expanded education and community outreach,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Helping kids stay safe in cars is critical as we work with families to create a healthier Florida.”

The Department is the lead state agency for Safe Kids, an organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children, and currently has 12 coalitions located in 22 counties. Safe Kids will work together with police and fire departments, hospitals, emergency medical services and other partners to educate consumers about choosing the right car seat for their child, the importance of registering car seats with the manufacturer and what to expect should that seat be subject to a safety recall.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children in the United States ages 1 to 19 and using the appropriate restraint will save lives. According to Safe Kids, the child needs to be at least 57” tall (4’9”) and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds to ride with just a seat belt.

Child safety seat checks will be conducted in Alachua, Baker, Broward, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Monroe, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Johns, and Sumter counties. To find exact locations and times please visit: http://www.safekids.org/events/field_coalition/safe-kids-florida.

The Department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. During 2014, the Department is recognizing 125 years of public health in Florida with educational opportunities and events. Please visit www.FLHealth125.gov for more information.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.