UnityPoint Health—Grinnell to provide car seat checks

GRINNELL — UnityPoint Health—Grinnell Regional Medical Center obstetrics team will provide free car seat checks and education at the Grinnell Farmers Market Thursday, Sept. 18 from 3-6 p.m. on the corner of Broad Street and Fourth Avenue.

Caregivers, parents, grandparents or anyone who transports children are encouraged to stop by to ensure car seat safety is being followed.

Inspectors will check the following:

•Is the car seat appropriate for the child's age, weight and height according to the manufacturer's directions?

•Is the seat belt routed properly, through the child safety seat according to manufacturer's directions?

•If the car seat is rear-facing, is the child less than the maximum weight and height limit?

•If the car seat is forward-facing, is the tether strap connected to its designated anchor point?

•Is the child safety seat installed tightly in your vehicle? It should move less than one inch front-to-back or side-to-side when grasped at the belt path.

If your child safety seat uses a harness:

•Are the harness straps threaded through the appropriate slots in the child safety seat?

•Are the harness straps snug? You should not be able to pinch any slack in the harness straps.

•Is the harness retainer clip threaded according to manufacturer's instructions and resting at armpit level when your child is in the seat?

If your child is in a booster seat:

•Does the shoulder belt ride across your child's collarbone?

•Does the lap belt ride across the top of your child's thighs?

Additional questions can be emailed to GRMC_Obstetrics_group@unitypoint.org.