This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Woodbridge FD Holds Car Seat Clinic June 11

Certified installers will help residents get their children buckled up.

The Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Association will be hosting a car seat clinic at Fire Headquarters, 100 Center Road in Woodbridge, on Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of child car seats are installed incorrectly. And vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of children ages 2-14 in the United States.

"It is very important," says Woodbridge Volunteer Fireman Dave Watts, "to check the installation guide and your car owner's manual to make sure you have the correct car seat for your child."

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Connecticut State Law, children must ride in a proper child restraint until they are more than 6 years of age and 60 pounds. Both the age and weight requirements must be met. After children outgrow their car seat, they must ride in a booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 80 pounds and 4-feet 9-inches.

The law also requires that infants remain rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and 20 pounds. Violators will be fined and required to attend a car seat education class.

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"If the car seat isn't installed properly, the seat can be loose and the child won't be restrained," says Woodbridge Fireman Mike Cavanagh. "What we're concerned with is the head and neck of a child in a crash."

Cavanagh and Watts recently underwent a 32-hour car seat safety training by Safe Kids USA, which left them certified in installation. In the spring, they plan to run clinics for residents, but until then, they're available to help parents and grandparents properly install car seats.

Call Deputy Fire Marshal Patrick J. Scully Jr. at 203-389-3444, ext. 204, to make an appointment.

Watts says it's also important to remember that anything loose in the car is a projectile in the event of an accident.

"The toys hanging on newborn carrier seats can detach and hit the baby, and so can those mirrors that so many parents use to keep an eye on the child from the front seat," Watts says.

For more tips on child safety in vehicles, check out this page on the National highway Traffic Safety Administration.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.