On average, 20 children per day die from accidental injuries, and car accidents are a major cause.
This is often because car seats are used improperly or not at all.
Many North State counties have child passenger safety programs to teach residents how to install these safety devices, including Sutter County, which just received a $150,000 federal grant to provide education to residents.
“It’s vital because a significant number of car seats are either inappropriate for a child’s age and size, or installed incorrectly,” said Michelle Blake, executive director of the Sutter County Children and Families Commission.
“Children in the 0 to 5 age group are highly vulnerable in the event of a car crash.”
“Children in the 0 to 5 age group are highly vulnerable in the event of a car crash,” she said. “Their bodies are just less resilient than adults, which require that special protection to reduce risk of injury or fatality.”
In addition to providing weekly car seat check-up days, Blake said Sutter County’s program can also provide assistance to families who may not be able to afford proper car seats.
“That ensures that our economic barriers do not prevent children from being safe,” she said.
The county’s next car seat check-up day is Monday, Dec. 11. Instruction is available in English, Spanish and Punjabi.
Blake said trained technicians can also make home visits to Sutter County.
Other child passenger safety programs in the region