Free child safety seat inspection event for parents

On May 24, 2023, in celebration of Emergency Medical Services for Children’s Day, a free child safety seat inspection at the Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps (DTVAC) Station from 2 to 5 p.m.

The event will be hosted by the DTVAC in coordination with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and aims to ensure all parents and caregivers understand how to choose an appropriate seat for the child’s age and size and how to install the seat correctly. Caregivers will be educated on selecting a child restraint that will fit their child, fit their vehicle, and be used correctly every time.

Getting safety information and car seat instructions to parents and caregivers is crucial to saving young lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger vehicles.

Car and booster seats are important safety devices children use on a daily basis. The NHTSA reports that car fatalities are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Checked often, car and booster seats save lives.

“Correctly installing a car seat for a child can be challenging, especially for first-time parents or caregivers unfamiliar with the process. According to both national and local research, the majority of car seats are not installed or used correctly, which increases the risk of injury to a child in the event of an accident,” said DTVAC’s EMS Chief, Kyle Wright, “Car seats can be complicated to understand and install, with different models requiring different installation methods. And some vehicles may have unique features or restrictions that can make installation more challenging. We recommend every caregiver have their child’s safety seat checked or installed by a safety technician.”

The DTVAC Station is located at 135 Park Road in Dingmans Ferry near the intersection of Park Road & Myck Road in Delaware Township. No appointments are necessary. Participants may arrive anytime during the scheduled hours with their vehicle and car seat. Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on-site to help answer any questions.

DTVAC is accredited at the Expert-level under the state’s Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program, which recognizes emergency medical services agencies that provide a superior level of care to pediatric patients. Events such as the child seat inspection are one of the ways DTVAC maintains this prestigious accreditation.

For those who cannot attend but wish to have a car seat inspected, make an appointment by calling DTVAC at 570-828-2345 ext. 808 or the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at 570-296-6459.