Free child safety seat inspection saves lives Published April 14, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- A free child safety seat inspection took place Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in the family child care office parking lot. The inspection is designed to help families ensure they are using their child safety seats correctly, said Mara Lackie, 90th Force Support Squadron. The focus is always on child safety seat misuse and the child's safety during these types of inspections, said Bridget White, a certified child safety seat instructor. The Wyoming child safety seat misuse rate was 90.72 percent in 2007, which means less than 10 percent of families are using their child safety seats correctly, Mrs. White said. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, using child restraints properly has saved about 7,000 children's lives in the last 20 years. A common problem is parents are buckling their child's car seat in the car properly, but their child is not restrained in the seat correctly, Mrs. Lackie said. "The car seat straps have to be much tighter than parents realize." Certified safety inspectors also recommend parents avoid using head supports that go under the child's neck and back. They also suggest removing bulky winter coats from children while riding in a car seat. In both cases the extra materials decrease the seat's effectiveness in a vehicle impact, Mrs. Lackie explained. NHTSA research has proven child seats reduce infant deaths in a vehicle accident by 71 percent and the death of children from one to four years old by about 54 percent. "My child is my number one priority in my life," Mrs. Lackie said. "There is nothing more important and so greatly treasured as his safety and security. "We spend so much time in the car during an average week; ensuring he is buckled in properly is non-negotiable," she said. This is the family child care staff's third year hosting an inspection, and it is done in April in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child. "I feel that what better way to celebrate and honor the children of our military members by ensuring they are safe and secure in the child restraint seats every time they travel," Mrs. Lackie said. The Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has a permanent child safety seat inspection station, and the staff offers a free inspection once a week by appointment, Mrs. White said. "And the staff is always happy to help answer any questions the parents may have about their child safety seats." For more information or to set up a child safety seat inspection, call Mrs. White at 778-2567 or call the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center at 633-7527.