Buckle up! This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, and the Howard County Health Department is doing its part in educating parents.
Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death and unintentional injuries for children in Maryland. Every year, an average of eight kids under the age of 16 are killed, and more than 3,000 are seriously injured in crashes.
When used correctly, child safety seats can reduce the risk of deadly injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers.
In order to help, the health department will hold demonstrations on Monday showing parents how to safely buckle up children in the car.
Lessons will take place at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., in the lobby of the health department at 8930 Stanford Blvd in Columbia.
There will also be information available about the Car Seat Assistance Program, which provides new, low-cost car seats to income-eligible families. It also provides education on car seat safety and installation.
