PIERRE, S.D. – National Child Passenger Safety Week takes place Sept. 19-25, 2010, and Project 8, Governor’s Child Seat Program, is encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure their child safety seats are properly installed.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 8,959 lives have been saved from 1975 to 2008 by the proper use of child restraints. In 2008, among children under age 5 in passenger vehicles, an estimated 244 lives were saved by child restraint use (child safety seats and adult seat belts). In 2009, 88 percent of the seats inspected in South Dakota were improperly installed.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, Project 8 will host its fourth annual “National Seat Check Saturday” in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls where parents and caregivers can have their child’s safety seat inspected for free.

• Aberdeen - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Lakewood Mall, 3315 6th Ave SE (food court entrance)
• Sioux Falls - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Billion Hyundai, 3405 S Westport Ave

In addition to these events, certified technicians will also be available in other communities throughout the week providing the same free child safety seat inspections and education.

• Pierre – Sept. 20 from 5-8 p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot, 1730 N. Garfield Road
• Wessington Springs – Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Jerauld Co. Community Health, 606 W. 1st St NE
• Dupree – Sept. 23 from 4-6 p.m. (MDT) at Dupree Daycare, Main Street
• Rapid City – Sept. 23 from 3-6 p.m. (MDT) at McKie Auto, 21 E. Omaha Street
• Sisseton – Sept. 24 from noon - 3 p.m. at the Sisseton Fire Hall, 4 E. Oak Street

The purpose of Project 8 is to remind all parents, child care providers, and other guardians to use the proper restraint system for each child’s height and weight. Once a child reaches 40 pounds, a booster seat should be used until the child is at least eight years old. By then, most children reach the proper height and weight requirements (4 feet, 9 inches tall and more than 80 pounds) to be safely fastened in seatbelts. Project 8 also distributes infant seats, toddler seats, and booster seats to income-eligible families across South Dakota.

To learn more about Project 8, please visit the program’s website at http://www.state.sd.us/project8/default.htm. 

To learn more about National Child Passenger Safety Week, please visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS.