LAKEPORT – Kids’ Plate of California and the First 5 Lake Commission have joined forces to insure the continuation of the Children’s Safety Car Seat Program.
Kid’s Plate staff has announced that it is allocating 54 car seats to Lake County.
State Farm Insurance Corp., through the efforts of State Farm Agent Nanette Dutcher, is contributing funding to purchase an additional 20 car seats.
First 5 Lake is committed to matching the State Farm grant, thus 94 children’s car seats will be available to low or moderate income families until the inventory runs out.
First 5 Lake has established a safety car seat inspection station network throughout Lake County. Each station has Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Families can bring their auto, car seat and child to an inspection station to receive instruction on how to properly fit a child’s safety seat in the car and the child in the seat.
While this may sound easy to do, in fact most seats are installed incorrectly, thus increasing the chance of injury to the child in case of an accident.
Incorrect installations occur because of the multiple types of car seats and models of cars on the market. A “one size fits all’ approach simply does not work.
There is no fee for this inspection and instruction. A new car seat will be provided, if required, with the understanding that the supply is limited.
Inspection stations can be found at:
Middletown Fire Station on Highway 175, 707-987-3089, Extension 1, by appointment;
Clearlake Fire Station on Olympic Drive, 707-994-2170, by appointment;
California Highway Patrol in Kelseyville, 707-279-0103, by appointment
First 5 Lake also is providing funding to train child passenger safety technicians. The four-day training course will begin on Tuesday, April 27, with the certification exam occurring on Friday, April 30.
Any interested member of the public willing to volunteer time to serve at an inspection station can participate in the training.
To register go to www.safekids.org; the course identification number is CA20100324321.
If you have any questions please call Tammy Alakszay at 707-263-6291.
Kids’ Plate of California was established by the California legislature in 1992. It receives its funds from the sale of Kids’ Plates motor vehicle license plates. These funds collected through the Department of Motor Vehicles are in turn made available to local communities to help prevent childhood injuries, and child abuse while at the same time supporting child care licensing.
More than 700 grants have been awarded to local communities to date. Every automobile owner can support this program by purchasing a Kids’ Plate.
For more information visit the Kids’ Plate Web site at www.kidsplates.org.
First 5 Lake Commission is dedicated to Early Healthy Childhood Development. Established in 2001, First 5 Lake funds a series of programs that offer services to improve child development, strengthen families and provide better health care.
