A Chevrolet Safe and Sure child seat installation clinic took place on Sunday, April 6.
Participants are welcome by appointment, regardless of brand of vehicle they drive, says Preston general manager Peter Heppner.
Chevrolet launched the national Safe and Sure child car seat installation workshop program, offering families expert advice on installing car seats into any make or model of vehicle for free.
Families and caregivers can sign up for the free workshops at www.safeandsure.ca.
“Safety has always been a priority for Chevrolet,” says Natalie Nankil, public relations manager, Chevrolet. “Knowing that car seat safety has become such a concern, and that parents are looking for know-how and support, Chevrolet decided to help all drivers with the new Safe and Sure program.”
Chevrolet’s car seat installation workshops were piloted in Toronto during 2012 and 2013. The workshops received such overwhelmingly positive response from parents, grandparents, expectant parents and caregivers that Chevrolet is working with Parachute to now offer this program in three major cities.
"Parachute is excited to work with Chevrolet to give families the tools they need to travel safely," said Louise Logan, President and CEO of Parachute. "Research shows that a properly installed and used car seat will prevent injuries, and could save your child's life. We encourage you to register for a Chevrolet Safe and Sure Car Seat Installation Workshop, so that you can learn this life-saving skill."
• Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death by preventable injury for Canadian children between the ages of one and nine (Public Health Agency of Canada).
• A properly used child seat or child restraint system (CRS) reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 per cent and risk of serious injury by 67 per cent (Canadian Paediatric Society).
• Misuse rates range from 44 per cent to 81 per cent for car seats and 30 per cent to 50 per cent for booster seats (Canadian Paediatric Society).
• Car seats have an expiry date. If it is not listed on the label or the seat itself you can call your manufacturer directly to get the expiry date for your model. Do not use a seat that has been in a crash, or a seat that you don't know the history of. Even if there is no visible damage, a crash can still compromise the integrity of the car seat.
• Children shouldn’t be rushed out of a booster seat. The booster seat works to position the adult seat-belt over the strong bones of the body. Children should not move into a seat-belt until they are 145 cm (4’9”). Check your provincial laws around booster seats for applicable laws and restrictions for your province.