North Carolina Launches Child Passenger Safety Week with Statewide Car Seat Checks and Major Donation of Child Safety Seats

Keeping children safe on the road starts before the vehicle ever leaves the driveway. The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Safe Kids North Carolina, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP), Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, Safe Kids Pitt County Coalition, and safety partners across the state are joining together to recognize Child Passenger Safety Week, September 21-27, with education, demonstrations and free child passenger safety seat checks for families.

As part of this year's statewide effort, Cybex, a manufacturer of child passenger safety seats, is donating more than $20,000 worth of child safety seats to help provide families across North Carolina with the equipment they need to properly protect their children. The seats will be distributed through child passenger safety events taking place across the state during the week.

The statewide campaign will officially kick off Monday, September 21, in Greenville, where state and local safety officials will hold a press conference followed by a child passenger safety event featuring a seat slide simulator that demonstrates the forces involved in a crash.

The kickoff event will begin at 10 a.m. at Kohl's, 3501 Galleria Drive, Greenville, followed by a child passenger safety seat-checking event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to help parents and caregivers make sure their child's car seat is properly installed and being used correctly.

The first 50 families will be eligible to receive a free child safety seat, while supplies last. Children must accompany their parent or caregiver.

“Seeing the forces involved in even a relatively low-speed crash can change the way people think about child passenger safety,” said Brian Taylor, North Carolina State Fire Marshal and Chairman of Safe Kids North Carolina. “Our goal is to make child passenger safety practical and accessible for every family. We have partners across North Carolina who are giving their time and expertise to help parents get their children's seats installed correctly and make sure children are properly restrained every time they ride.”

Taylor also recognized the importance of the private-sector partnership helping make this year's campaign possible.

“We are incredibly grateful to Cybex for stepping up to support North Carolina families with more than $20,000 in child safety seats,” Taylor said. “This kind of partnership allows us to take education one step further by putting the right resources directly into the hands of families who need them.”

The seat slide simulator will be available at events throughout the week, giving families and the media an opportunity to see firsthand how quickly a child can be thrown forward during a crash when not properly restrained. The demonstrations provide a powerful visual reminder that car seats and seat belts are designed to work together to protect young passengers.

“Every parent wants to know their child is as safe as possible when they get in the car, but knowing which seat to use and installing it correctly can sometimes be overwhelming,” said Allan Buchanan, Director of Safe Kids NC and Deputy Director of Community Risk Reduction. “Child Passenger Safety Week gives us an opportunity to meet families where they are, answer their questions and provide hands-on assistance. These events are about more than checking a car seat—they're about giving parents confidence that they are doing everything they can to protect their children.”

Child Passenger Safety Week Goes Statewide Following Monday's kickoff in Greenville, child passenger safety events will take place throughout the state. September 26 will serve as Seat Check Saturday, with communities across North Carolina offering families opportunities to have their car seats checked by trained technicians.

Monday, September 21

Greenville – Statewide Kickoff | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m | Kohl's, 3501 Galleria Drive, Greenville
Franklin – Franklin Fire Rescue| 3 – 6 p.m |49 Maple Street, Franklin

Tuesday, September 22

Lenoir/Greene Counties – Partnership for Children | 9 a.m. – noon | 1465 Hwy 258 N, Kinston
Greensboro – Fleming's Prime Steakhouse | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | 3342 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro,
Concord – The Dream Center | 1 – 4:30 p.m. | 280 Concord Parkway S., Concord
Jacksonville – One Place | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m | 1200 Commons Drive North, Jacksonville

Thursday, September 24

Mooresville – Target | 2 – 5 p.m. | 594 River Hwy., Mooresville
Leicester – Leicester Fire Department | 9 a.m. – noon 1563 Alexander Road, Leicester
Taylorsville – First Baptist Church | 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. | 321 Main Ave., Taylorsville
Albemarle – Stanly County Partnership for Children | 2 – 5 p.m. | 1000 N. 1st St., #8, Albemarle
Williamston – Williamston Police Department | 9 a.m. – noon |100 South Haughton St. Williamston
Asheboro – Asheboro Housing Authority | 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. | 703 Farr Street, Asheboro

Friday, September 25

Shelby – Shelby Fire Station | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 506 E. Grover St., Shelby
Yadkinville – Yadkinville Fire Department | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 729 N. State St., Yadkinville
Charlotte – Mecklenburg Health Department | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 249 Billingsley Road, Charlotte

Saturday, September 26 – Seat Check Saturday

Mebane – Tanger Outlets |9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 4000 Arrowhead Blvd., Mebane-Firefighter pull following the event
Selma – Target | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.| 551 St. Mark Ave., Selma
Pittsboro – N. Chatham Fire Department | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Station #1: 45 Morris Rd, Pittsboro
Chapel Hill – N. Chatham Fire Department | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Station #2: 1442 Farrington Point Rd.
Orange County –Chapel Hill Fire Station #2| 2 – 4 p.m. |1003 Hamilton Road, Chapel Hill
Orange County – Carrboro Fire Station #1| 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | 301 W. Main St., Carrboro
Orange County – Carrboro Fire Station #2| 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.| 1411 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
Orange County – Orange Rural Fire Station #1 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 206 S. Churton St.; Hillsborough
Orange County – Orange Rural Fire Station #4 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 352 College Park Rd, Hillsborough
Goldsboro – TEAM Chevrolet |10 a.m. – 1 p.m. |3300 Highway 70 Bypass East, Goldsboro
Monroe – Monroe Aquatic & Fitness Center | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 2325 Hanover Drive, Monroe
Durham – Durham Fire Department Station 18 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 6919 Herndon Road, Durham
Smyrna – Eastern Park | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 450 Hill Road, Smyrna
Catawba– Catawba Valley Medical Center | 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. | 810 Fairgrove Church RD Hickory
Edenton – Edenton Fire Department | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | 704 N. Broad St., Edenton
Butner – Butner Public Safety | 8 a.m. – noon | 611 Central Avenue, Butner

The statewide events are part of North Carolina's ongoing effort to educate families about child passenger safety and connect parents and caregivers with trained professionals who can provide hands-on assistance.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to have their child's car seat checked if they have recently purchased a new seat, moved their child into a different type of restraint, are preparing for a new stage of growth or are unsure whether the seat is installed correctly.

“Child Passenger Safety Week is a great example of what can happen when communities come together around a simple but important goal—keeping children safe,” Buchanan said. “We want parents to take advantage of these events, ask questions and have their seats checked. A few minutes can provide peace of mind and help ensure a child is properly protected on every trip.”

Taylor added, “From our state partners to local fire departments, law enforcement agencies and child safety advocates, people across North Carolina are stepping up to help families. We want every parent and caregiver to know that resources are available in their community, and we want every child to have the protection they need every time they get in a vehicle.”

-OSFM-

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