Local Programs and Resources
Buckle Up Program/Child Passenger Safety
Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg places a strong emphasis on educating parents about the proper usage of car seats. Since 2002, Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg has inspected over 12,000 car seats. Over 95% of these seats were incorrectly installed. This misuse rate spans all socioeconomic status. Nationally, at least 10% of these errors are potentially fatal. The coalition provides child passenger safety awareness and education to program participants.
Mobile Car Seat Clinics
Please visit our calendar of events to find child safety seat inspection locations near you.
Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations (CSSIS)
In 2002, Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg opened our first “permanent” child safety seat inspection stations. Safe Kids member agencies commit to specific days and times where Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety Certified Technicians conduct individual car seat inspections for the public. With sponsorship and grant support over the years, our goal to provide a child safety seat inspection service every Thursday and one Saturday at various Mecklenburg County locations continues. Dates and times vary at each location. Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations are a Free Car Seat Education Inspection service offered to the public. CSSIS are not a “free car seat give-a-way” nor is it an installation program. Participation by the participant is required during an inspection. For location dates and times, visit our calendar of events or see our reproducible CSSIS Flyer. If your group, organization, or business would like to volunteer at a CSSIS, or can offer sponsorship or funding to our locations, please contact us for further information.
Helpful information for having your child’s car seat inspected
- The following are recommended or required for a certified technician to best teach the family to install the seat correctly. Bring:
- Your child (recommended),
- In their current car seat (required) and
- Your most used vehicle (required)
- Arrive early! Some inspections require appointments, please schedule appropriately. For location dates and times, visit our calendar of events.
- Allow at least 20 minutes per seat and be prepared to learn to install the seat yourself! We are here to educate you on child safety seat installation.
- Staff services are provided free of charge by the participating organizations. All organizations are public safety, and emergency response takes precedence over a car seat inspection. Thank you for understanding.
- Donations are always welcome to re-supply our resources!
Car Seat Distribution Program
Thanks to generous funding from NC Office of State Fire Marshal’s Office and NC Governors Highway Safety Program, Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg is able to provide car seats to program participants who can least afford them. See our Car Seat Distribution Requirements for further information.
New Parent Child Passenger Safety Workshops
Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg provides course materials to Carolinas Medical Center for 2-hour child passenger safety workshops for new parents. Classes are taught by Safe Kids Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Course registration is available from Carolinas Medical Center, Maternity Center
Used/Recycled Car Seats
Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg appreciates your interest in donating your used child safety seats to our program. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept used seats for re-distribution. Used seats may be expired, missing parts and/or directions, under recall, damaged, or been involved in a crash. Mecklenburg County Recycling Centers do not have the capabilities to recycle dissembled parts of seats.
We encourage you to find a community outreach organization or family in need that would accept your donation. We also encourage you to print and provide the “Recycled Car Seats??” information sheet with your seat.
*Note: Goodwill and Crisis Assistance do not accept used child restraints.
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/15_recycled_seats.pdf
Visit our calendar of events to find a car seat clinic near you.
Other resources
Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification
www.buckleupnc.org
www.safekids.org/certification
www.cpsboard.org/index.htm
Safe Teens ThinkFirst Program
Tween Traffic Safety
NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program
Seat Belt & Car Seat Safety
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration
Transporting Special Needs Children |
