Algonquin-LITH Fire Department to Host Car Safety Check Event

The Algonquin and the Lake in the Hills Police Departments, along with the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Department, announced they will be conducting a National Seat Check Saturday event on September 20, 2014 at 1020 W. Algonquin Rd.

Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to check car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers on how to choose the right car seats and install them properly in their vehicles.

The event is part of Algonquin and Lake in the Hill’s Police Department’s participation in National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 14-20, 2014), and is free to the public. This event is one of 78 events in Illinois sponsored by AAA, Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

By attending this year’s car seat event on September 20, 2014, parents and caregivers can be sure their kids are riding as safely as possible in their vehicle.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular seats. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he/ she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

After outgrowing their car seats, children should be placed in booster seats. The law in Illinois states a child must be in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until their 8th enough at age eight for the seat belt to fit them like an adult so they need to stay in a booster.