‘Keep Baby Safe’

Public Health offers free child car seats in partnership with CHP

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 608 child passengers aged 12 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes and more than 91,000 were injured in 2019.

Of the children 12 and younger who died in a crash (for whom restraint use was known), the CDC reported that 38% were not buckled up.

Studies also show that up to 70% of children secured in child safety seats are improperly buckled, according to the California Highway Patrol’s website.

The Tuolumne County Public Health Department has been working to lower these statistics by offering the Keep Baby Safe program to caregiver participants of Medi-cal, WIC (Women, Infants and Children), Calworks and Calfresh. Previously, this information was offered through a class, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, participants gather the information by watching six short videos produced by the CHP.

Through the videos, Keep Baby Safe program participants learn how to properly install a rear-facing seat, a forward facing seat, booster seat, how to use the latches and/or the locking clip and learn about safety seats for older children.

The program started in Tuolumne County in the 1990s and is a partnership between the Childhood Health and Disability Prevention Program, the American Automobile Association (AAA,) the CHP and the California Department of Public Health.

Tuolumne County Public Health Director Michelle Jachetta said that the health department “really valued the partnership in the community” that contributes to making the program a success.

Information about the program is available in the birth center at the hospital, on the health department’s website, health fairs, Facebook and through the WIC program.

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Paula Sarantopoulos is one of two certified instructors on staff and said they are “moving toward coaching.”

The process of overseeing a parent or caregiver installing a car seat usually takes about 30 minutes. It is estimated that between this time last year and now about 30 car seats have been placed, but the number is lower this year due to the pandemic.

A virtual class is scheduled from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27. People can call

now to register.

Anyone can get help with installation of their own car seat, and Sarantopoulos recommended calling first for an appointment between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

The CHP website offers information about current laws regarding child safety seats, and there

are many links to useful links regarding child passenger safety. If you need assistance in properly securing a car seat, you can call a local CHP office and ask to speak to a child passenger safety technician.

For more information on the Keep Baby Safe program or to make an appointment with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, call (209) 533-7413.

Shelly Thorene / Union Democrat Certified Child Passenger Safetytechnician Paula Sarantopoulos last week checks to see that the latch is properly tightened and that the car seat does not move more than an inch in any direction on a convertible child safety seat installed in a vehicle at thetuolumne County Health Department in Sonora.

Shelly Thorene / Union Democrat Tuolumne County Health Department Certified Child Passenger Safetytechnician Paula Sarantopoulos holds a convertible child safety seat ready to be installed.