Events and Web site aim to foster child car-seat safety

A new Web site geared toward child safety will feature a series of check points to help parents correctly install car seats and will be available to Utahns this week.

The Utah Department of Health, Safe Kids Utah and other community partners hope the features and information on the site, www.safekidsutah.org, will help parents prevent injuries and death.

"Each year in Utah, an average of 57 children under age 14 die from preventable injuries, and another 48,000 are hurt badly enough to need medical care," said Christi Fisher, director of Safe Kids Utah and a health educator with the health department's Violence and Injury Prevention Program.

The Web site features videos, fact sheets and other resources on safety topics, including poisoning prevention and car, bicycle, water, pedestrian and fire safety. The site also lists car-seat inspection sites across the state, a calendar of safety events, newsletters and text-messaging alerts.

A series of free car-seat checks and classes will also be held beginning Friday around the state to help parents correctly install their car seats. Locations and times:

Friday – Car-seat checkpoint from 3 to 6 p.m. at Babinski Baby at 1324 S. Foothill Drive.

Friday – Car-seat checkpoint in Kamas. Please call 435-615-3954 for address and an appointment.

Saturday – Car-seat checkpoint from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ute Plaza, 7500 E. Highway 40, Fort Duchesne.

Sept. 16 – Child-passenger-safety class from 2 to 2:45 p.m. at Hill Air Force Base.

Sept. 17 – Child-passenger-safety class from 7 to 8 p.m. at Davis Hospital and Medical Center, 1600 W. Antelope Drive, Layton. Participants must register in advance by calling 801-807-7096.

Sept. 18 – Car-seat checkpoint from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Redwood Recreation Center, 3060 S. Lester Street (3100 S. Redwood Rd.).

Sept. 18 – Used-car-seat collection in Park City. Call for 435-615-3954 for information.

Sept. 19 – Car-seat checkpoint from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Costco, 573 W. 100 North, West Bountiful.

Sept. 19 – Car-seat checkpoint from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hansen Motor Co. GM, 1175 S. Commerce Way, Brigham City.