(RIVERSIDE, Sept. 12, 2011) – To commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week, the Automobile Club of Southern California, along with child safety advocates, and the Riverside Police Dept. and California Highway Patrol, will host a free community car seat clinic at the Target store parking lot, 3520 Tyler St., on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Target is across the street from Tyler Mall.
Also featuring First 5 Riverside, Safe Kids Inland Empire, and Riverside County Dept. of Public Health’s Injury Prevention Services, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The clinic will focus on motorists understanding how to install child safety seats from infant size to booster and inspection of a child’s car seat for proper fit and usage, according Anita Lorz, manager of the Auto Club’s Traffic Safety and Community Affairs.
New guidelines from the American Pediatric Association advise parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. The group also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Under California law, children must be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat until they’re at least 6 years old or weigh 60 lbs. Safety seats reduce risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. Using a booster seat with a seat belt for older children instead of a seat belt alone reduces the risk of injury by 59 percent, according to the Auto Club.
Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call the Nicolle DeFries at the Riverside Police Dept. at 951-826-5674 to reserve an appointment.