20230915 23-05 Child Seat Pre-Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/15/2023
CONTACT: Ofc. Yager #70
Oak Brook offers free car seat checks by certified technicians
The Oak Brook Police Department today announced it is partnering with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration for Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 17-23, to help
ensure the safety of young children traveling in our community. The annual safety week is
capped off with National Seat Check Saturday, when parents and caregivers can get free seat
checks and instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their kids.
“Most parents are dedicated to doing their best for their kids, so they may be surprised to find out
their children aren’t as safe as possible in their vehicle,” said Chief Brian Strockis. “Please don’t
wait for a crash to find out if your child’s seat is installed correctly. Let a certified Child
Passenger Safety Technician give you peace of mind.”
The latest research from NHTSA shows that 46% of car seats are misused. Common issues are
children being in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size, and car seats being installed
improperly — both of which leave children vulnerable to injury in a crash.
Using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to
reduce crash fatalities among children. According to NHTSA, more than a third of children 12
and younger who died in crashes in 2021 in cars, pickups, vans and SUVs were unbuckled. The
No. 1 rule: Never let your children ride unbuckled — not even on a short trip.
The campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds from NHTSA administered by IDOT.
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BS Initialed by C.O.P
KY#70 23-05