National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – September 17–23, 2017

Although highly preventable, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.

From 2010 to 2014, there were 3,181 children under the age of 13 killed and an estimated 601,000 children injured in car crashes. That’s more than the population of Atlanta, Georgia.

Every 33 seconds, one child under 13 is involved in a crash. That’s a terrifying statistic, and one that demands our immediate attention. To help combat this serious issue, we must work together to spread the word about child passenger safety and the life-saving importance of correct car seat selection, installation, and use. Is your child’s car seat correctly installed? Don’t think you know—know you know.

On average in 2014, nearly two children under 13 years old were killed and 308 were injured every day as passengers in car crashes. These crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. To help put an end to these senseless deaths and injuries, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is sponsoring Child Passenger Safety Week, September 17-23, 2017. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand in towns across the United States to teach parents and caregivers how to identify the right car seat for a child’s age and size, and how to correctly install and use the car seats.

St. Luke’s offers free car seat checks on a regular basis: https://www.stlukesonline.org/communities-and-locations/classes-and-events/car-seat-safety-checks-boise