Parents and caregivers can bring their kid, vehicle and child car seats to Coquitlam Centre next weekend for a car seat clinic.
Coquitlam RCMP and the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) are partnering for the free event on Saturday, April 27 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the mall’s southeastern parking lot, near the Pinetree Way and Anson Avenue intersection (2929 Barnet Hwy.).
Attendees can have their vehicle and baby and child seats checked by certified Child Passenger Safety educators.
“This event underscores our ongoing commitment to child passenger safety and public education,” said Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Alexa Hodgins in a news release.
“We understand that setting up car seats can be stressful, time consuming and intimidating. At this event, families can be assured that their child car and booster seats are properly installed.”
Appointments can be made by emailing [email protected]; however, registration is not required. Drop-ins will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.
About 1,300 children aged nine and under are hurt every year in B.C. in motor vehicle crashes; another five are killed.
According to ICBC, a child safety seat can cut the risk of injury by 67 per cent and death by 71 per cent.
It’s the driver’s responsibility to ensure all passengers are secured with seatbelts and child restraints.
Here are ICBC’s stages for child car seats:
Stage 1 (rear-facing)
- From birth until at least one year old and 9 kg (20 lbs)
- Place in back seat
- Position centre-rear
Stage 2 (forward-facing with tether)
- Must be over one year old and over 9 kg (20 lbs)
- Up to at least 18 kg (40 lbs)
- Place in back seat
Stage 3 (booster seat)
- Must be over 18 kg (40 lbs)
- Required until at least nine years old or 145 cm (4'9"), whichever comes first
- Place in back seat
- Booster is used with a lap/shoulder seatbelt
Stage 4 (seatbelt only)
- Keep children in the back seat until 12 years of age
- The lap belt should fit low over the pelvic bones
- Shoulder belt should fit over the shoulder and snug across the chest
