Vestal Car Seat Safety Check Happening Today

When my son was a baby, my husband and I were those parents who read the manual cover to cover, watched the installation videos, and tugged on that car seat base so many times we were sure it wasn't budging an inch. We felt good about it. Confident, even. It wasn't until we stopped by a free child safety seat check, almost on a whim, that a certified technician gently pointed out we'd gotten it wrong. The seat wasn't installed the way it needed to be, and neither of us had any idea. I'm still glad we went, because you don't know what you don't know until someone who's trained to catch it shows you.

That's exactly the kind of thing Broome County families have a chance to catch today, thanks to the Broome County Traffic Safety Education Program.

Free Vestal Car Seat Check Happening Today

The Broome County Traffic Safety Education Program and its partners are hosting a free car seat inspection event at Funky Beez, located at 1344 State Route 26 in Vestal, today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. No appointment is needed, so families can just show up during the window that works for them.

Why Car Seat Checks Matter for Broome County Families

Car crashes remain a leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1 and 13, and the numbers around correct installation are hard to ignore. A properly installed and used car seat can lower the risk of death by as much as 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. The tricky part is that most parents feel confident their seat is installed correctly, but nearly half of parents and caregivers nationwide get it wrong, and here in Broome County, that number climbs to around 85%.

What Families Should Bring to the Car Seat Check

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand checking installation, harnessing, expiration dates, and the overall condition of each seat. Families are asked to bring their child safety seat or seats, their child or children, their vehicle, and, if they have them, the car seat and vehicle manuals.

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Anyone with questions can contact the Broome County Traffic Safety Education Program at 607-778-2807 or visit their safety and injury prevention page for more information.