Child Safety Seat Program

car seat safety graphic


Did you know......?

4 OUT OF 5 CHILD SAFETY SEATS ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED!

COULD YOURS BE ONE OF THEM?

The North Castle Police Department, in conjunction with the National Highway Safety Administration, offers, at no cost to the general public, child safety seat installations and safety checks on an appointment basis.

The Department has six certified car seat technicians in the unit: Sgt. Kevin Finateri, program coordinator; Det. Sgt. Patsy De Benedictis, Sgt. William McClure, PO Steve Cunningham, PO James Kehoe, and PO Jeanna Marie Saccoccio.  Our Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will assist with the proper installation of child safety seats. Our technicians will look for improperly installed, broken or recalled safety seats and will demonstrate and explain to parents and caregivers about the proper selection, installation, and use of car seats, booster seats, and proper use of seatbelts.

For more information about the program or to schedule an appointment please call at 914-273-9500 and ask for the Child Seat Unit.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of fatal injuries for children in the United States. In 1998 alone motor vehicle crashes claimed the lives of 2,549 children ages 0-14 and injured 316,000 more. It is estimated that as many as 90% of parents who use child safety seats do so improperly. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6 out of every 10 children who died in crashes in 1998 would be alive today if they had been properly restrained.

In October of 2001 the North Castle Police in conjunction with the Westchester Safe Kids Coalition and with the assistance of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee have opened a child safety seat fitting station located at the North Castle Police Department. This program disseminates information to educate parents and child care providers in the proper use of child safety seats. All officers are certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and are trained to inspect for damage, recalls, and to demonstrate proper installation techniques to parents on a one- to- one basis.

www.NHTSA.com

www.safeny.gov