San Diego County receives grant for child passenger safety education program

José A. Álvarez - San Diego County Communications Office

San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency, Integrative Services Division announced Thursday, Nov. 14, a $225,000 grant has been awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund programs that educate parents and guardians on child passenger safety. The grant is ongoing through Sept. 30, 2020.

Grant funding will be used for a variety of activities to promote the proper use of child safety seats, including: car seat checkup events and/or one-on-one appointments to inspect car seats; child safety seat education classes informing parents on using and properly installing the right car seat based on a child's height and weight and child passenger safety technician training and certification and recertification courses.

The funding will also cover distribution of child safety seats to families in need; surveys on car and booster seat compliance rates; community events and fairs to increase awareness about child passenger safety; conduct "roll call" training sessions on occupant protection and conduct child passenger safety education classes for elementary schools.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for children 13 and under. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46% of car seats are not used properly.

"Children should be as safe as possible when traveling in a car," Barbara Rooney, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety, said. "Funding for child passenger safety education and training allows our partners to make sure children are in the right car seat that is being used correctly."

Funding for this child passenger safety program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information, contact Noemi Dueñas, (858) 621-2313, ext. 114, at Pacific Safety Center.