Press Releases

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Encourage Parents and Caregivers to Prioritize Child Passenger Safety 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2026

Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 20-26

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage parents and caregivers to choose the right car safety seat for their child and install the seat properly. RHHD Community Health Workers (CHWs) lead car seat safety classes each month at local resource centers and clinics as part of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Low Income Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program. This program provides eligible families with new car seats and boosters along with education on proper installation and use. Call or email Community Health Worker Patrice Shelton at 804-404-5166 or patrice.shelton@vdh.virginia.gov for more information.

“Community Health Workers are trained in car seat safety, which is an important aspect of public health.” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director of Community Programming Margo Webb. “Community Health Workers provide training to parents and caregivers on how to properly install car safety seats and can provide a brand-new seat to eligible families.”

How to choose a seat and get help with installation

Use this guide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to choose the right car safety seat for your child’s age and size. VDH hosts regular car safety seat check events and offers remote service by request. Many locations throughout the country will be offering free car safety seat inspections by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 26). Visit nhtsa.gov/CarSeatInspection to find out if an event or technician is available in your community.

Car seat safety tips from NHTSA

  • Read the instructions. Read both the car seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner’s manual before installing a car seat. Contact a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for no-cost assistance.
  • Use the tether on forward-facing car seats. Secure the tether when installing a forward-facing car seat. The tether prevents the car seat from moving forward in a crash and may prevent head injury.
  • Don’t rush to the next seat. Keep kids in the right seat for their age and size for as long as possible.
  • Keep kids under 13 in the back seat of the vehicle. Never place a car seat in the front seat. Air bags in the front seat are designed for adult passengers.
  • Register car seats with the manufacturer. When you register your car seat with the manufacturer, the manufacturer will be able to notify you in the event of a recall. NHTSA’s SaferCar app provides an easy way for parents and caregivers to save their vehicle and car seat details.
  • Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Vehicle heatstroke occurs when a child is left in a hot vehicle, allowing for the child’s temperature to rise quickly. In 2025, 31 children in the U.S. died of heatstroke in vehicles.

According to NHTSA data, an average of three children were killed and an estimated 439 children were injured every day in traffic crashes in 2024 in the U.S. Child safety seats have been shown to reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants under one year old and by 54% for toddlers one to four years old in passenger cars.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.

rhhd.gov | henrico.gov/health | RHHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

Press Release Archives

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Encourage Parents and Caregivers to Schedule Appointments for Children’s 2026 School-Required Vaccines

Posted on by bryanhooten

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2026 Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage parents and caregivers to schedule school-required vaccination appointments […]