Certified technicians from the Stevens Point Child Safety Center/Safe Kids Portage County performed car seat safety checks at CAP Services’ Children’s Discovery Center in Stevens Point Tuesday, Sept. 20, as part of National Child Passenger Safety Week.

“Road injuries are the leading cause of unintentional deaths to children in the United States,” said Joanne Peotter, Stevens Point Child Safety Center director. “Car seats can dramatically reduce the risks to child safety, but only if they are installed and used correctly and consistently.”

The event was part of more than 500 community car seat safety events across the country held as part of the Buckle Up program supported by the General Motors Foundation.

Peotter said correctly-used car seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent, but that 73 percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly. Safety check events, such as the one at Children’s Discovery Center, allow trained and certified experts to directly assist parents in the correct use of car seats.

“We are excited to partner with the Stevens Point Child Safety Center on this event,” said April Niemi, CAP Services’ assistant director of Early Childhood Development. “Our work is focused on creating a safe and caring environment for children as well as engaging parents in their child’s development. Ensuring the safe use of car seats is an important part of that process.”

For more information about Stevens Point Child Safety Center, including information about upcoming safety checks, call 715-341-7328.

To learn more about CAP Services’ Children’s Discovery Center, visit capservices.org/cdc.