May 9, 2008

May Mobilization is a Good Time to Remind Parents and Others to Use Proper Child Safety Seats:
May 12 - June 1 is May Mobilization

PIERRE, S.D. – May 12 – June 1, 2008, is May Mobilization. Project 8: Governor’s Child Seat Program is partnering with the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety, local law enforcement as well as other safety agencies across the state during this time to help increase awareness on proper child safety seat utilization and installation.

Project 8 will hold free child safety seat check up events across the state during this time to help with demonstrating and educating adults on the proper way to install child safety seats. Below is a list of sites where inspections and installations will take place:

• May 15: White River Ambulance Shed, Main Street, 10am-2pm MDT
• May 16: Watertown, HyVee, 1320 9th Ave. SE, 4-6pm CDT
• May 19: Hot Springs, Tots-N-Toddlers Too, 2500 Minnekahta Ave., 3:30-6:00pm MDT
• May 20: Hoven Community Health Office, 318 Main Street, 10am-2pm CDT
• May 21: Chamberlain, Sanford Mid Dakota Medical Center, 300 S Byron, 11am-3pm CDT
• May 27: Leola, Fire Hall on Hwy 10, Noon-3pm CDT

The purpose of Project 8 is to remind all parents, child care providers and other guardians to use the proper restraint system for their child’s height and weight. Once a child reaches 40 pounds, a booster seat should be utilized until the child is at least 8 years old. By then most children reach the proper height and weight requirements (4’9” and more than 80 pounds) to ride safely in a seatbelt.

Project 8 also distributes infant seats, toddler seats, or booster seats to income eligible families throughout South Dakota. To learn more about the events occurring around the state now and throughout the summer, contact the Department of Social Services at 605-773-4766 or visit Child Safety Seat.