Safe Kids Tulsa Area has opened a car seat inspection station at Broken Arrow Fire Department. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will perform the inspections on a drop-in basis. Technicians will also train parents and caregivers in the proper installation and setup of their own specific car seats in their own vehicles. The station, located at 3151 N. 9th St. (55th & Lynn Lane), will be open 10 a.m.-noon every first Thursday of the month.

“Broken Arrow families are fortunate to have a permanent site for car seat inspections, staffed by trained experts,” says Beth Washington, Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety coordinator. “This is a significant addition to the safety resources available to families in our community.”

Safe Kids Tulsa Area is one of more than 300 coalitions across the country to be awarded grants from Safe Kids Worldwide to establish local inspection stations as part of the Safe Kids Buckle Up® child passenger safety program. Broken Arrow Police and Fire Departments are committed partners in Safe Kids Buckle Up.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. “Under Oklahoma law, all children under 6 years must be restrained in an appropriate car seat or booster seat,” said Beth Washington.

Correctly used car seats and booster seats are extremely effective, reducing the risk of death by as much as 71 percent, but nearly 73 percent of child restraints are not installed or used correctly, According to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “It’s a parent’s responsibility to make sure your child’s car seat is properly installed and adjusted. We’re here to show you how,” says Beth Washington.

For additional information, call 918-494-7233 or go to www.safekidstulsa.com. The service is free and the inspection usually takes 20 to 30 minutes per seat.

Safe Kids Tulsa Area works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Its members include Tulsa and area Police and Fire Services. Safe Kids Tulsa Area is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Tulsa Area was founded in 1993 and is led by The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis.

Safe Kids Buckle Up® is a national program developed by Safe Kids Worldwide and sponsored by General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of properly restraining children on every ride and about safety in and around vehicles.