Spokane area having recent decline in improper car seat installations

Bi-Mart and the Cheney Fire Department, in cooperation with members of the Safe Kids Spokane Child Passenger Safety Team, will be conducting a free car seat check on Saturday, May 23. The check will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Bi-Mart on 2221 First St. in Cheney.

The team includes members from the Cheney Fire Department, Spokane Police Department, Liberty Lake Police Department, Spokane COPS Senior Volunteers, Stevens County Fire District No.1, AAA, Holy Family Hospital, Shriner's Hospital and the Spokane Regional Health District.

Recently the misuse rates for car seat installations in the Spokane area has increased to where 75 percent of all car seats are incorrectly installed. This is a 5 to 10 percent decrease from recent highs of 80-85 percent. Misuse includes seats that are not secured properly, seats that have recalls, seats that are at, or past the expiration date, and other causes. While this is an improvement, the numbers are still too high. Please take this opportunity to come down for this free event.

This is the sixth consecutive year the team has come to Cheney to put on an event, and the second year teaming up with Bi-Mart. The event supplements the Cheney Fire Department's permanent fitting station that is available year round by appointment.

Many children are graduated to forward facing car seats, and into booster seats too early, putting them at increased risk for severe injury or death in an automobile crash.

The best practice has children riding in rear facing car seats until the maximum weight for the seat in that direction. Children should be forward facing in a five-point harness as long as the weight limits of that seat allow. State law says that children will be in booster seats until they are eight years old, or they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children must ride in the rear seats of the vehicle until their 13th birthday.

Each check takes about 30 to 40 minutes, and certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand to assist parents in the proper installation of car seats, and to answer any questions they may have.