Child safety seats can be lifesavers for our most precious cargo when used properly. To support parents and caregivers so that their children fit securely in car seats, Public Health – Seattle & King County is hosting four free child car seat check-up events over the late spring and summer, starting in Newcastle on May 31.

Events details

· Newcastle: Friday, May 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Coal Creek Family YMCA is 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road

· Renton: June 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Renton Public Health Center, 3001 NE 4th St.

· Bellevue/Factoria: July 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way

· Federal Way: August 7, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Steel Lake Park, 2410 S. 312th St.

For all events, bring your car, car seat and child and learn how to properly install your car seat.

Parents and caregivers will have their child safety seat checked by a certified child safety seat technician for safe installation; soon-to-be parents/caregivers welcome as well. Educational materials will also be on hand.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children up to two years old in rear facing seats or until they have reached the maximum height and weight limits of the car seat, as allowed by the manufacturer.

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants younger than one year old and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars, according to national research.

By one estimate (2009), 309 lives were saved nationally by child safety seat use.

For more information about the Public Health sponsored events, please contact Alan Abe, King County Emergency Medical Services Division, at 206-263-8544. For ongoing child safety seat check-up locations in the Puget Sound area, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health.