Keys to Car Seat Safety

Arizona “Keys to Car Seat Safety” Program Kicks Off in Honor of National Child Passenger Safety Month in September, Partners with Safe Kids Pima County to Provide Free Car Seat Checks in Tucson on October 21

Larry H. Miller Dealerships announced plans to host its third annual car seat safety campaign in recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Month. The campaign, fittingly titled “Keys to Car Seat Safety,” arrives in Tucson in October. The initiative is a collaborative effort with Safe Kids Pima County, in which members of the community are invited to attend a free car seat safety check on Saturday, October 21 from 8-11 a.m. at Larry H. Miller Dodge Ram, located at 4220 E. 22nd Street.

“Knowing that seven out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly makes any parent stop and think,” said Pat Kroneberger, senior vice president of operations, Larry H. Miller Dealerships. “Over the last two years, these events have proven to be beneficial to the families in our communities. We hope to continue to provide parents and grandparents with a forum where they can learn proper installation techniques to keep their kids safe on the road.”

At the event, car seats and child booster seats will be checked for proper installation by certified child passenger safety technicians. Additionally, safety handouts will be provided to attendees with tips on how to maintain a correctly installed car seat. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the events to ensure proper fit of the car or booster seat being inspected. Seats will be checked on a first-come-first-served basis and visitors to the event will be treated to entertainment, light refreshments and ice-cold water.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, car crashes are the leading cause of accidental death for children. Properly utilizing child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.

“It’s vital for parents to know how to properly install their child’s car seat,” said Jessica Mitchell, community outreach specialist with Tucson Medical Center and coalition coordinator for Safe Kids Pima County. “These safety check events with community partners like Larry H. Miller Dealerships provide the opportunity for parents to come out with their children and spend 30 minutes learning how to keep them safe with instruction from a certified professional.”

The Saturday morning event is offered as a service to the community at no cost to the public. Hundreds of car seats and booster seats have been checked over the last two years and those deemed expired or unsafe have been replaced with newer models at no cost to families.

For more information on car seat safety and event locations, visit KeystoCarSeatSafety.com.