Child Safety Seat Check And Tag Sale This Weekend

By Tanjua Damon

Sometimes installing a child safety seat can be frustrating for new parents or parents who are putting in a different seat for their child. On Saturday, June 16, from 10 am to 2 pm, officers of the Newtown Police Department will be on hand in the parking lot behind Edmond Town Hall to ensure that child safety seats are installed properly for parents.

Sergeant George Sinko is heading the Saturday event with six to eight other officers. Parents can have the child seats in their automobiles checked for proper installation by trained personnel. No appointment is necessary, but seats will be checked on a first come first served basis.

“We are just going to be looking for the proper installation of the seats,” Sgt Sinko said. “We’ll also check at that time to see if there are any recalls the owners may have at that time.”

Parents are recommended to bring the child safety seat manual with them since seats are designed differently and it will help the officers to be able to check to make sure a particular seat has not been recalled.

“There are so many different seats out there,” he said. “They all have twists and turns to them.”

Parents will also be able to ask any questions they might have about how to use a child safety seat, which officers can help them with, according to Sgt Sinko. On average it will take about 20 minutes to a half-hour to check for proper installation. With cars with multiple seats it will take a bit longer, he said.

“We want your kids to be safe,” Sgt Sinko said. “To have the seat installed incorrectly can be just as dangerous as not having a child in a seat at all.”

There will also be a tag sale of items specifically for small children sponsored by the New Mom’s Groups at Newtown Youth Services. Items for children birth to four years old will be sold.

The Tag Sale will be held from 9 am to 1 pm at Newtown Youth Services. Anyone wishing to sell items or drop off items can all NYS at 270-4335 or drop off your items on Friday, June 15, from 9 am to 5 pm in the Memorial Room at 41 Main Street.