Child Passenger Safety

child passenger safety

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children, and 7 out of 10 car seats installed by parents and caregivers are not installed correctly. Make sure yours is not one of them by scheduling a session to have a Nationally Certified Technician properly educate you on how to keep your child safe when they are riding in the car.

Roanoke Fire-EMS and Carilion Children's have partnered together to provide child safety seat installation events on the third Thursday of every month at Station 6 (1333 Jamison Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013) from 4:00pm-6:00pm. 

For child safety seat installation appointment contact Jill Lucas Drakeford at 540-981-9435 or by email at [email protected]

*Note - please don't just "show up" at a fire station - you must schedule an appointment*

carseat checks
booster seat
Did you know that roughly 8 out of 10 child safety seats are installed incorrectly? The best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use the right car seat in the right way. Here are some car seat safety tips to protect your most precious cargo.

Hard Facts about Safety in Cars

  • Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States.
  • Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
  • Three out of four car seats are not used or installed correctly.

Top Tips about Car Seat Safety

  1. Buying the right car seat. Your baby needs to ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, at least until age 2. When your child has outgrown that seat, you are ready for a forward-facing car seat. Get more details about buying the right car seat for your child.
  2. Installing your car seat. You’ll need to decide on using either the seat belt or lower anchors to secure your car seat. Both are safe, but don’t use them both at the same time. Once your child is forward facing, it is important to use the tether with the seat belt or lower anchors. Get more details about installing your car seat.
  3. Getting the right fit. A properly-fitted harness gives the best possible protection for your child. Here are more details about getting the right fit for your child.
  4. When to change your car seat. Look on the car seat label to make sure your child is still within the weight, height and age limits for that seat. Get details about when to change your car seat.

For more information about child passenger safety, click here.