Booster seats upgraded, celebrated on Saturday
Booster and car seats, like those pictured above, should be replaced as a child ages.
MOSES LAKE - Parents in the Columbia Basin needing to get rid of outdated car seats, or those needing new ones, may have their prayers answered Saturday.
For the fifth time, State Farm Insurance Agent Kim Janke and Safe Kids Grant County are sponsoring a Car Seat Round Up.
The event is held in conjunction with Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week, Sept. 16-22.
"It's actually a very cool event," Janke said. "Safe Kids come in and they bring technicians who are trained and certified to determine if car seats are installed properly."
Those technicians will be on hand at the insurance agency, 420 W. Broadway Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, to inspect, assess, and make recommendations on car and booster seats.
According to Maria Vargas, coordinator with Safe Kids Grant County, more than 72 percent of car seats nationwide are not being used properly.
Janke said that professionals on hand will measure and weigh children and match them up with a proper seat.
Car seats that have been in a crash or that are more than six years old can be dangerous, she said.
Representatives from both the Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County Fire District 5 will be on hand to destroy old car seats with the jaws of life.
Parents of children outgrowing their car or booster seats have the option of purchasing new ones at the event: $30 for infant or toddler seats, while boosters run $15.
"Last year was the biggest ever, but every year there are more people," Janke said. "When it was all said and done, there were hardly any car seats left."
The seats come from a grant that Safe Kids Grant County of the Grant County Health District earned.
"Everybody gets here early to set up, and ever year we've had cars lined up waiting," Janke said.
And whatever costs are leftover, Janke picks up herself.
"It's so cool," she said. "It never ceases to amaze me how many people pull up for this event."
According to Safe Kids Grant County, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for children 17 and under.
Children ages 0 to 1 and at least 20 pounds should be using a rear-facing car seat. These types of seats should never be placed in front of active air bags.
Youths ages 1-4 should use a child care seat with a five-point harness.
Those over 4 years and up to 4-feet-9-inches tall, and preferably 40 pounds and above, should be seated in booster seats. If the vehicle offers neck and head support, then a no-back booster should be acceptable, the county said. If not, a high-back booster is recommended.
Up to the age of 13, children should ride in rear seats of a vehicle.
Officials say that a seat belt should fit snugly across the hip and shoulder bones, never across the neck or stomach.
Any car seats that have been in a collision should be replaced, officials said.