Dayton Children's recognizes Child Passenger Safety Week

Dayton Children's Hospital is proud to join the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in recognizing Child Passenger Safety Week, September 21-27, 2025. This national campaign highlights the importance of using and installing car seats, booster seats, and seat belts to keep children safe while traveling and prevent injuries in car crashes.

This year, Dayton Children's will provide families with education on proper car seat installation and offer two free opportunities for parents and caregivers to have their car seats checked by certified technicians:

• Tuesday, September 23, starting at 2:00 pm - Dayton Children's Connor Health Pavilion, 1010 Valley St, Dayton, OH 45404
• Saturday, September 27 (National Seat Check Saturday)- Shelby County Health District, 202 W Poplar St. Sidney, OH 45365

If you're interested in a car seat check, you can easily book your spot by clicking here.

At both events, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will guide families in choosing, installing, and using the correct car seat for their child's age, height, and weight. Parents will receive hands-on help to ensure their children are traveling as safely as possible.

"Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats," said Renee Milby injury prevention specialist and certified passenger seat tech at Dayton Children's. "They think they're protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child's age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk."

According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. In 2024 alone, Dayton Children's emergency departments treated 494 children ages 0-14 for crash-related injuries and recorded one fatality.

"We know parents love their kids," added Milby, "and they'll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats - it's worth making sure."

When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage - from infants to teens. Whether it's a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents' minds at ease by confirming which seat is correct for their children and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow the height or weight limits for the car seat, and it's important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.

Families who are not available for Tuesday's seat check times but would still like to have their car seats checked can find out if a technician is available in their community by visiting the NHTSA's online installation help finder.

Parents can filter search results by Spanish-speaking technicians, virtual appointments, and local Child Passenger Safety Week events. NHTSA.gov also has free resources available to caregivers. Learn about the different car seat types, read NHTSA's research-based recommendations, and find and compare car seats.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. They can also download NHTSA's SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire info in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.

For more information on child passenger safety, go to NHTSA.gov/therightseat.