Car Seat Safety: Coventry Checkpoint To Be Held Thursday

COVENTRY, RI — Parents can have their children's car seats inspected for free at an event sponsored by the Coventry Police Department. Meanwhile, parents looking to replace car seats can bring them to Target locations for recycling until May 4.

The event will be held at the Walgreens location on Tiogue Avenue from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Parents can stop by and have a certified child safety technician check to make sure car seats are installed properly or install it for them.

Properly installed car seats are absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of infants and young children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, crashes are a leading cause of death for children aged one through 13.

There are three types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats. In Rhode Island, children are required to be placed in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old or at least 30 pounds. More information on the different types of car seats and when they should be used is available on the NHTSA website.

From now until May 4, parents looking to upgrade to a new car seat can recycle their old one at Target and receive a coupon for 20 percent off of a new one. To do so, simply bring the old car seat to the guest services counter at any local Target store. More information is available on the store's website.