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J.D. McCarty Center,
Norman Police Department partnering to offer
free safety check of child car seats
The J.D. McCarty
Center and the Norman Police Department are
teaming up to offer a free safety check of child
car seats from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct.
9.
Certified child passenger
safety technicians from the center, the police
department and the Norman Fire Department will
perform the safety checks at the police department
located at 201-B W. Gray St.
Officials said the
goal with the event is to help parents make
sure that they are using the appropriate safety
seat for their child's age and size and that
the seat is properly installed in the family's
vehicle.
Securing children
in the appropriate seat offers them the best
protection in the event of a crash. Motor vehicle
crashes are the leading cause of death for children
ages 3 to 14, according to information from
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Child safety seats work
best when they are used correctly but nearly
three out of four seats are not used properly,
according to information from the traffic safety
administration.
"There are
so many easy ways to make mistakes and not even
know it," said
Michelle Carr, a physical
therapist at the J.D. McCarty Center, about
the child seats.
A safety check allows for
"a second set of eyes" to look at
the seats and make sure they are being used
correctly, said Carr, who has helped coordinate
the event.
Carr said the J.D. McCarty
Center and the Norman Police Department partnered
in 2007 on a safety check of child seats and
she wanted to work with department officials
to offer the service again. It's also an opportunity
for physical therapists at the center to reach
out to the community and recognize October as
"National Physical Therapy Month,"
she said.
Carr and three other physical
therapists from the center who are certified
child passenger safety technicians will be involved
in the Oct. 9 safety check. The J.D. McCarty
Center is Oklahoma's center of excellence in
the care and treatment of children with developmental
disabilities.
Carr has worked on coordinating
the seat check with Sgt. Jennifer Newell, community
relations officer for the Norman Police Department.
"We're all passionate
about the safety of children," Newell said.
Also, a limited number
of car seats will be available for free for
eligible families at the event, Newell said.
Parents who can't attend
the event can schedule a safety check of their
child seats by calling Newell at 366-5267 to
set up an appointment.
Also on Oct. 9, the Norman
Police Department is working with Absolute Data
Shredding to offer a free "Shred-A-Thon"
where residents can safely dispose of their
personal documents, such as check stubs, old
checks, credit card offers and receipts.
The Shred-A-Thon will also
take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the police
department.
For more information
about the J.D. McCarty Center, visit the website
at www.jdmc.org.
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