At child safety seat check, only a few installed properly

ALBION – Trained police officers checked 26 child safety seats during an event on Saturday and found that only five were properly installed, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

The Albion Police Department and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office worked together on the child safety seat check event on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot for the Dollar Tree.

This check allowed for patrons to have their child seats inspected by a child safety seat technician. The technicians determined if the child safety seat would provide adequate protection for the child or if a new child safety seat is needed.

With only five seats meeting the safety standards, the technicians then properly installed the seats.

The Albion Police Department received a Child Passenger Safety Program grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. This grant funding allows the Albion Police Department to purchase child safety seats and other related items for conducting child seat inspections.

The funding also can be used to provide child safety seats at no charge to persons who currently have seats that do not meet safety standards following an inspection conducted by a seat technician.

Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent when used correctly. However, misuse reduces effectiveness, Nenni said. More than 90 percent of child safety seats are used improperly.

The Albion Police Department will continue to address this issue by participating in the New York State Child Passenger Safety Grant Program and conduct safety seat inspection checks, Nenni said.

Residents may call the Albion Police Department at 589-5627 and schedule an individual appointment to have a child safety seat inspected.