Riley County Offers Free Car Seat Safety Inspections Weekly

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Riley County emergency services agencies are offering free car seat safety inspections every Tuesday to help ensure children are properly protected while traveling in vehicles.

The Car Seat Check Lane operates from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Manhattan Fire Department Headquarters, 2000 Denison Avenue, according to the Safe Kids Riley County Coalition.

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians educate families on how to select the appropriate car seat type for their child's age, height and weight, as well as how to properly install the car seat. Parents don't need to bring their children to participate, but will be asked questions to verify they have the right seat for their child.

Effective use of child safety seats reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in cars, according to the Riley County Police Department. Every 34 seconds, one child under age 13 is involved in a crash.

Multi-Agency Effort

The Riley County Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department and Riley County EMS work together to provide the service to the community. The Car Seat Check Lane is a designated Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office inspection station.

For families who cannot attend the weekly Tuesday sessions, the Riley County Police Department offers appointments for free car seat checks by calling 785-537-2112.

Safe Kids Coalition Background

Riley County is part of the Coalition for the Kansas Safe Kids program, a statewide childhood injury prevention program whose mission is to protect children from unintentional injuries. Safe Kids Riley County began in 1993 and has been active in promoting child safety since that time.

The coalition celebrates Safe Kids Month by providing activities, tips and resources to educate parents and caregivers about preventing injuries.

"Car seats save lives, but they must be used correctly to be effective. Our goal is to educate families and provide them with the knowledge they need to keep their children safe on the road," coalition representatives said.

The safety checks are provided free of charge, and no appointment is necessary for the weekly Tuesday sessions.

For more information about the Car Seat Check Lane or child passenger safety, contact the Riley County Health Department at 785-776-4779.