The event offers a centralized child seat safety checkpoint, and is being sponsored by the Bayonne Fire Department and Safekids Worldwide, Ryan said.
BAYONNE -- The Bayonne Fire Department is inviting residents to get their child seats checked for free tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 16th Street and Avenue A Fire Station, city spokesman Joe Ryan said.
The event offers a centralized child seat safety checkpoint, and is being sponsored by the Bayonne Fire Department and Safekids Worldwide, Ryan said.
To date, the Fire Department has checked over 900 child safety seats for residents, he said.
New Jersey State law requires that parents install child safety seats for children under age 8, or who are less than 57 inches tall. Safety experts recommend that all children under age 13 ride in the back seat.
The Fire Department's Child Seat Technicians use a 12-Point checklist to ensure that children are traveling safely, Ryan said.
Parents should be aware of the two most common issues regarding child safety seat installation, he said.
The first is a loose chest harness clip that is designed to hold the child within the seat. Children tend to play with and unintentionally manipulate the chest clip. The result is the chest harness can slip down and create an unsafe seat situation.
The second problem is loose items stored within the vehicle, particularly on the rear windshield deck in passenger cars.These items can become projectiles, and seriously injure children at the time of a collision or sudden stop.
A child seat safety-check appointment can also be scheduled throughout the year, Ryan said.
To schedule an appointment, please call Bayonne Fire Headquarters at 201-858-6008.
Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.