Rutherford County, TN - Parents and caregivers are invited to join community leaders and safety experts at the Rutherford County Health Department, 100 West Burton St. in Murfreesboro, for a car seat checkup.

The event hosted, by Safe Kids Cumberland Valley and State Farm, to address one of the leading causes of death for children ages 1-12. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will work directly with families to educate them on the proper installation and use of their car seats. 

The event will take place on Friday, Nov. 3 from Noon-3pm, and is part of the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program, a new national initiative to increase access to education and resources, help inspire behavior change, and create a culture of safety for children and families.

The statistics are telling: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1-12 in the U.S.

In 2021, one in three children under age 13 who died in a crash were unrestrained.

Studies examining misuse among users of child car seats estimate that more than half of car seats are not used or installed correctly.

According to 2021 Tennessee Department of Health data, 91% of pediatric motor vehicle crash deaths in Tennessee were considered preventable.

“A properly used and installed child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 71 percent, but too many families do not have access to the education and safety devices that every child deserves,” said Stacey Pecenka, Trauma Injury Prevention Program manager at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and Safe Kids Cumberland Valley coalition leader. “Buckling up every ride every time in the right safety seat is the single most effective way to protect a child.”

“With over 3.6 million children born in the U.S. every year (CDC), State Farm® is committed to helping kids stay safe From Car Seat to Driver’s Seat™,” says local State Farm agent Dana Womack. “We’re excited to work with Safe Kids and have this opportunity to give more parents tools to keep their kids safe on the road.”  

Before the end of 2023, the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program will bring car seat checkup events to communities in 25 cities across the country.