February 2011 The online News Magazine of Saint Mary’s Health Care

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Community Benefit – Free Car Seat Safety Checks for Parents!

Four out of five car seats are being used incorrectly – Could yours be one of them?

Responding to that alarmingly statistic, Saint Mary’s Health Care has recently partnered with Helen Devos Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids to host four free Car Seat Safety Checks in 2011; the first event will be taking place on Saturday, February 26.

During these events, certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to help make sure that attendees’ children are riding safely. To educate the proper way to use a car seat, the technicians will remove it from the car and go through the manual one-on-one with the client, going through each step the correct way to install it.

Saint Mary’s Social Worker Jennifer Chaffer, and Manager of Security, James Standley, are both certified child passenger technicians, and they designed this event for a safer community.

“With hundreds of different styles of car seats, and thousands of car models, there are many ways to set up a car seat wrong,” stated Standley. “This way we will be able to go through the manuals and share with the attendees the proper way to install it.”

The ultimate goal of this safety check is to keep the community educated and safe.

“We could be possibly saving a life in our community,” said Chaffer. “We have the opportunity for people to leave sessions safer than they arrived.”

The Free Car Seat Safety Check will be February 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking garage directly across from Saint Mary’s Health Care.

Appointments are strongly encouraged, but not required. To schedule an appointment, to find out more information, or to volunteer, please call 616-391-1591. A Spanish translator will be at the event. Discounted car seats and booster seats will also be available for families that qualify. A child must be present at this event or a mother must be expecting, and you must bring a vehicle and photo ID as well.

Free Car Seat Safety Checks will be taking place at the same location and times on the following Saturdays in 2011:
• Saturday, May 14,
• Saturday, August 27,
• and Saturday, November 12.

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