blog home Child Safety Enter to win our “Car Seats for Kids” giveaway and learn more about keeping kids safe on the road

Enter to win our “Car Seats for Kids” giveaway and learn more about keeping kids safe on the road

By Beth Gibson on September 16, 2020

We are pleased to announce our fall “Car Seats for Kids” giveaway campaign to help keep more children safe in Virginia. In lieu of our annual coat drive, we are offering this “touchless” contest and informational campaign to support the safety of local families.

Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of children over the age of 3 every year in the United States. By wearing seat belts and properly buckling children into age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats, the risk of serious injury and death in a crash is reduced by half, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So just in time for holiday travel, GibsonSingleton will give away top-rated car seats in October, November, and December. To enter each month, visit our Facebook page, and nominate yourself or someone else who has children to win. Nominees may be expecting a baby, already have a baby, or have a toddler, preschooler, or elementary-aged child.

At the end of each month, we will draw a winner from among the entries. After checking with the winner to determine the age, weight, and other needs of the child, we will order the car seat and present it to the winner.

GibsonSingleton partner Ken Gibson said, “Our children are the most precious cargo we carry, so we want to help keep them safe by giving away car seats and encouraging everyone to use them.”

Why the worry?

As background, a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine had researchers stake out gas stations, fast-food restaurants, childcare and recreation centers, and other popular spots to monitor parents’ use of safety seats for children. The most striking finding was that very few parents were following safety guidelines as children got older. Many children as young as age 5 were sitting in the front seat, often unrestrained. Overall, a very low percentage of children were using the restraints recommended for their age groups.

Partner John Singleton said, “Since the 1990s, the death rate for U.S. young people ages 1–19 has been reduced significantly, largely due to the increased use of seat belts and other safety restraints, according to the CDC. But we need to see even greater improvement. We know that using safety restraints properly doubles a child’s chance of surviving a wreck. That’s why we are giving away car seats and sharing safety information with everyone.”

Virginia’s Requirements for Car Safety Restraints

Virginia Code (§46.2-1095) requires the following safety restraints:

• Rear-facing seats in the back seat for children until age 2 or the child reaches the seat manufacturer minimum weight limit for forward-facing seats.
• Forward-facing car seats in the back seat for children up to age 8.
• Seatbelts for all children up to age 18.

In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

• Belt-positioning booster seats for school-age children until regular belts fit properly.
• Kids big enough for regular seat belts should remain in the back seat until age 13.

Ken Gibson said, “Making sure you have bought the right type of seat for your child, that you’ve installed it correctly, and that you’re using it properly is not always easy. Several places in our area will check yours out for free and answer all your questions.”

Get your own safety check

In Gloucester, Investigator Jason Schnurr will check car seats and answer related questions at the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office, 7502 Justice Drive. Investigator Schnurr holds a National Child Passenger Safety Certification as a certified technician. To request an appointment, Investigator Schnurr may be reached at (804) 824-2757.

Schnurr said, “The Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) is committed to not only maintaining the public’s awareness of occupant protection but also improving it. Sheriff Warren and the GCSO encourage parents and caregivers to visit the National Child Passenger Safety Board’s website for more information about child safety seats, and we are also here to support you.”

A child passenger safety technician may be located in any zip code by visiting nhtsa.gov. or https://portalskcms.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/secure/manage?webid=SKCMS&pToolCode=CERT-SEARCH&pAdd=Yes.

Singleton concluded, “We hope that our “Car Seats for Kids” campaign reminds and encourages all parents and caregivers to remember to buckle up your child in the right car safety restraint every time you get in a car. It’s simple, and it saves lives.” 

More information

More safety tips will be available on our website and Facebook page throughout the fall, or by contacting me, Beth Gibson, the Director of Community Outreach, at [email protected] and (804) 413-6777.