Sikeston Standard Democrat: Local News: Child Passenger Safety Week begins Sunday (09/17/10)

Social worker Stacey Dame, who is also a car seat technician at Scott County Health Department, properly installs a convertible car seat into a vehicle. Leonna Heuring, Staff

SIKESTON -- Next week marks Child Passenger Safety Week, but local car seat technicians say they're available year-round to ensure car seats are installed properly.

"Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, and nearly 73 percent of car seats are not used correctly," said social worker Stacey Dame, who is also car seat technician for Scott County Health Department which serves as a car seat check station.

During the last three years in Missouri, 55 children were killed and 655 suffered disabling injuries as a result of traffic crashes.

"Many people still don't understand the importance of using the appropriate car seat for kids up to age 8," said Leanna Depue, chair of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety's executive committee.

Missouri law requires all children under 8 to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless: they are at least 80 pounds or at least 4'9" tall. Violators could pay fines as much as $50 plus court costs.

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