Family Advocacy sponsors car seat safety event

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Family Advocacy Program is sponsoring a car seat safety event April 26 at both child development centers here.

The FA program is teaming up with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's department under the motto "Connect, Inspect, and Protect." There will be car seat checkpoints set up at the CDC's where volunteers who have been trained in proper car seat installation will verify participants car seats have been installed properly, and if not, will properly install it for them.

"Studies show that the majority of car seats are installed incorrectly, which means in an accident it's not able to adequately protect your child," said Capt. Carrie Lucas, FA officer. "Baby products are also constantly being recalled, and at our safety event you can find out if your car seat has been recalled for safety or manufacturing issues."

Families and child care providers carrying precious cargo need to have the peace of mind that the car seats in their vehicles are installed correctly and have not been recalled.

"In October we had a similar event. Out of 20 car seat checks, 16 had issues," said Russell Cook, FA outreach manager. "That means 80 percent were installed incorrectly. People shouldn't assume the seats are correctly installed, they need to be sure."

With two locations hosting the safety checks, there is plenty of space available for not just Airmen, but the outside community as well.

"The event is open to anyone, not just Airmen or civilians who work here. Anyone who has access to the base and has a car seat can come," said Lucas. "If people know their children are safe, it eases their mind. We're in an environment where we want things to be efficient and effective. Anything worth doing is worth doing right."

Car seat checkpoints will be set up from 3 to 5:30 p.m. April 26, so Airmen can be certain their little ones will have maximum safety in the event of an automobile mishap. For other assistance with car seat safety checks, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 456-8400.