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Use car seats correctly

The Spokesman-Review

I read with a heavy heart the story of a Post Falls mother who is being charged by Spokane County prosecutors in the death of her infant daughter during a car crash in 2006 due to the improper use of a car seat.

Putting aside the issue of whether the mother should be charged, I am concerned with the lack of information concerning car seat safety. I believe most parents know that car seats must be installed in the back of vehicles, but are parents aware that car seats expire, or that children’s bulky coats must be removed before being strapped in, or that the safe use of car seats reduces the risk of death in a crash by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers?

Success By 6 of the Palouse has been serving our community since 2004 by offering free car seat safety checks and low-cost car seats for all Palouse residents. Parents can visit palousesuccessby6.org for more information on saving children’s lives.

Caitlin Cole

Moscow, Idaho

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