Free Child Safety Seat Program At Paoli Hospital Wednesday

Did you know about four out of five child safety seats are installed incorrectly in vehicles?

"We've had mechanical engineers try to follow installation directions and they are still wrong," Charlie Vilotti said.

Vilotti, who serves as Chester County's Highway Safety Program Project Coordinator, organizes and runs the Safe Kids Buckle Up program in Chester County. Chester county parents and parents to be can learn how to properly protect their child or children when using safety seats Wednesday in the Paolo Hospital parking garage (third level) and Saturday at Kelly Chevrolet on Nut Road in Phoenixville, Vilotti said.

Vilotti said the free program is by appointment and interested parites can call him at (610) 906-2711 for reservations. The Paoli Hospital event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the Kelly Chevrolet event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a special visit from the Philly Phanatic at 1 p.m. Vilotti said when the Phanatic is around, kids want to come, and when kids come, parents come.

"Most people are first time parents," Vilotti said of those who attend the program events.

He said instructors show parents and future parents how to properly install child safety seats with specifics such as the angle of the seat, where harnesses should be on a child, and what clothing children should wear while strapped in.

Parents will also take away literature on children's safety in vehicles, he said.

"It's educational and instructional," he said. "We encourage them to become engaged and show them how to keep children safe in the car."

Vilotti said parents are also encouraged to bring a doll to the event so instructors can show them the ideal positioning of a child. He said instructors range from police officers, to EMTs, to social workers and that anyone interested in becoming a Safe Kids volunteer instructor can contact him or visit SafeKids.org for more information.

Vilotti said the program is offered six months out of the year, with breaks during the winter as the program is held outside.

Vilotti said the program usually does 450 appointments per year.

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