FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer

Delaware Office of Highway Safety

Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

302-744-2743

DOVER, Del. (September 15, 2019) – Child Passenger Safety Week is a vital awareness campaign that runs nationwide to promote kids being secured in the right car seat for their age, height, and weight. This year’s event from September 15 – 21, is a collaboration between the Office of Highway Safety, local law enforcement agencies, Division of Motor Vehicles, and Safe Kids. Free child seat safety check events, resources, and training are being offered throughout the state to communities to educate the public on the importance of correctly choosing, installing and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts with child passengers.  Nationally in 2017, a child under the age of 13 was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 32 seconds and on average, nearly two children under 13 were killed every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans that same year. Our staff is available to provide free education to parents and caregivers on how to use the correct car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for their children’s ages and sizes.

“Lives can be saved and injuries prevented by ensuring children are riding in the right car seat and the car seat is properly secured in the vehicle,” Kimberly Chesser, Director, Office of Highway Safety.

CPS Week Twitter Chat

This is the second year that the Office of Highway Safety will host its annual CPS Week Twitter Chat. Join the conversation with certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and instructors on Thursday, September 19 at 3 P.M. online at @HighwaySafetyDE. Tweet questions, answers, and comments directly with OHS and use the hashtag #CPSWeek2019. Test your knowledge, share your stories, and learn something new.

“The Office of Highway Safety offers free car seat checks year-round at our fitting stations in all three counties.  We are committed to making sure that every caregiver leaves empowered with the knowledge and confidence to install their child’s car seat correctly,” Sarah Cattie, Child Passenger Safety Program Manager, Office of Highway Safety.

Annual Seat Check Saturday Event

OHS is hosting its annual Seat Check Saturday event on September 21 at the Milford Walmart from 10 AM to 12 PM in the parking lot. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend the free event and meet with certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians to ask questions and receive hands-on instruction. A multi-lingual car seat check event will be held at the Georgetown Department of Motor Vehicles, 23737 Dupont Blvd. on September 26 from 5 – 8 P.M. Interpreters who speak Spanish, and Creole will be available for this event to assist the certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

“CPS Week is a great opportunity to remind caregivers to always make sure their children are secured safely in the appropriate car seat.  4 of our 5 car seats in Delaware are installed incorrectly,” Aubrey Klick, Fitting Station Coordinator, Office of Highway Safety.

Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification

Interested in becoming a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician? SafeKids Delaware is sponsoring a Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification course being held in Seaford, DE. The course dates are Wednesday – October 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019, at the Seaford Police Department, 300 Virginia Ave., Seaford, DE. The course is one day a week for 4 weeks and the registration deadline is September 18. To register for the course, go to https://cert.safekids.org/.

Tips for Car Seat Installation

• Read the car seat’s instruction manual and the portion of your vehicle’s owner manual on car seat installation.
• The safest place to install a child safety seat is in the center rear position. This may not always be possible if installing the car seat using LATCH attachments.
• Never attempt to secure a child safety seat with more than one seatbelt.
• Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed forward-facing through the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders. If in a rear-facing seat, the harness strap should be at or below the shoulders. The harness is snug enough when extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulder. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
• For more information about car seats, go to
  https://ohs.delaware.gov/carseat.shtml.

Delaware Fitting Stations

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety offers free child safety seat inspections at our local Fitting Stations (by appointment only):

• Dover DMV & Sussex County

(302) 744-2749

• Wilmington DMV

(302) 434-3234

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

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