DECATUR, IL- Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities to hold events and raise awareness throughout Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 20-26. The Macon County Health Department will be offering a free car seat check event on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Macon County Health Department. Technicians will be available to help parents and caregivers determine the right seats for their children and demonstrate how to correctly install and use those seats.

When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage — from infants to teens. Whether it’s a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents’ minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat, and it’s important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.

According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2024, an average of two children under 14 were killed in crashes, and another 349 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.

Across the country, there are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can help caregivers pick the right car seat, learn how to install it correctly, and know how to use it the right way on every trip. When attending a seat check, caregivers should bring the following with them to the check event: the child who will be riding the car seat, the vehicle’s owner’s manual, and the car seat instruction manual, if possible. Appointments are not required, and served on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information or to schedule an appointment for a different day, please call 217-423-6988 and choose option 6.

For more information on child passenger safety, visit NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat.