February 18, 2014
(GLEN ALLEN, Va.) – The Virginia Department of Health, in partnership with the Henrico County Police Division and the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, encourage parents to give their children “The Best Hug in the World: Buckle Up!” this Valentine’s Day. Visit the Virginia Safety Seat Check Station Program’s free child safety and booster seat checks on Friday, February 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at:
Henrico County Police Division Central Station
Virginia Center Commons
10101 Brook Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059
The program offers information and safety seat checks in an effort to educate parents and to ensure all child safety seats are installed properly. At check stations, certified child passenger safety technicians provide free safety seat inspections in their communities. The car seat installation experience is an interactive one and takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the safety seat and the vehicle. Parents and caregivers will be asked to complete a form prior to checking your safety seat for proper installation, fit for your child, expiration, and recalls.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in children in the United States, and too often these deaths are due to the improper use or the failure to use child safety seats and booster seats. A properly installed safety seat reduces injury by 71% in infants, and 45% in toddlers. Virginia state law requires children to be properly restrained until their eighth birthday, using a child safety seat or a booster seat” said Tobey Allen, safety seat check coordinator for VDH.
Safety seat checks are held throughout the year at various locations in the Commonwealth. For more information, contact Tobey Allen, safety seat check coordinator, at 804-864-7747 or visit
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs/prevention/cps/permanent.htm