Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 23-29.

Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 23-29.

LANSING – The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) want to remind parents and caregivers about the importance of keeping children safe when traveling as part of National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, Sept. 23 -29.

Governor Rick Snyder has also proclaimed September 23-29 as CPS Awareness Week in Michigan.

A statewide study found that 74 percent of child restraint devices were misused in a way that would increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash. This summer, the OHSP launched a $400,000 public safety campaign about the importance of properly using car seats and boosters to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries that occur among children. The campaign included video and social media outreach.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper car seat use reduces the risk for death to infants by 71 percent and toddlers by 54 percent,” said Michael L. Prince, director of OHSP. “It is important for parents and caregivers to know the best option when transitioning children from one type of car seat to another. The public safety campaign underway now gives parents and caregivers the tools to ensure children are in the proper seat.”

CPS Week is a national initiative to raise awareness for car seat use and encourages car seat inspections by a certified CPS technician. The week culminates on National Seat Check Saturday, Sept. 29.

In Michigan, there are more than 1,200 certified CPS technicians who are trained with the latest technology and information, which they share with community members at events such as car seat checks.

“Using car and booster seats correctly can save your child’s life,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. “I highly recommend parents and caregivers take advantage of the expertise of Michigan’s CPS technicians to make sure that their child is riding as safely as possible.”

It is recommended that a child ride in a rear-facing seat from birth to when they reach the upper weight or height limit for the seat. When a child outgrows their rear-facing seat the child should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat until at least age 5. A booster seat should then be used until a child is at least 4’9” tall.

For a list of planned car seat checks, and additional safety tips, visit michigan.gov/carseats.