Free car seat inspections offered Nov. 12

Making sure no child is injured an auto accident is the goal of the car seat inspection event of Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The MFAEMS is scheduling appointments before 1:30 p.m. for car seat inspection and fitting at their main station, 609 Industrial Boulevard, in Marble Falls.

The number to call is 830-693-7277. The service is free and the MFAEMS can help provide a seat for families that cannot afford one.

Every child younger than age eight and shorter than four-feet-nine-inches tall travel in a federally approved child car seat. Fines from $25 for the first offense up to $250 for subsequent offenses are little compared to the heartache of injury or death of a child.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) best practice recommendations, rear-facing seats are necessary for infants up to 35 pounds and two years old, are parents are urged to stick with that style until those limits. Proper installation is as important as the proper seat and that is one thing EMS volunteers will be checking.

Children from age two-four, weighing from 20-40 pounds are ready for forward-facing seats, but the DPS recommends waiting as long as possible for the turn around.

After age four and growing to 40 pounds or more, if a child is showing enough maturity, booster seats can come into the picture. A proper fit of lap and should belts will need to be safely adjusted until a child is from 10-12 years old.

The DPS recommends delaying that last step to an adult lap/shoulder belt as long as possible, as children are better protected the longer they can stay in each phase. And, younger than age 13, they need to remain restrained in the back seat.