Car Seat Checks
​
One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Some 3 out of 4 child safety seats are not used correctly. The correct installation of child safety seats is often very confusing to parents, grandparents and caregivers. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different seats on the market and changes in technology, many parents find this overwhelming. If you are expectant parents, give yourselves enough time to learn how to properly install the car safety seat in your car before your baby is born to ensure a safe ride home from the hospital. Pelham Batesville have several Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technicians in our department who can check to make sure your car seats are installed correctly and teach you how to use and install a car seat on your own.
​
For more information on proper car seat installation see the Safe Ride 4 Kids website by following the link below
To schedule a Car Seat Installation please call our Fire and Life Safety Educator at 864-877-1247 or follow the email link below.
Child Car Seat Laws in South Carolina
​
While riding in a vehicle, children under 8 years old need to be properly restrained by an approved child safety seat.
However, additional conditions apply:
-
Children under 2 years old must be in a rear-facing child safety seat in a rear passenger seat of the vehicle unless the child exceeds the manufacturer's weight or height limits.
-
Children 2 years old and over must be in a forward-facing child safety seat in a rear passenger seat until they exceed the manufacturer's weight and height limits.
-
Children at least 4 years old, must be in a belt-positioning booster seat in a rear passenger seat. Booster seats are required to use a lap and shoulder strap.
-
Children at least 8 years old or those at least 57 inches tall can use a seatbelt if:
-
The shoulder belt crosses the child's chest and not their head or neck.
-
The lap belt fits across the child's hips and thighs and not across their stomach.
-
The child is able to sit, without slouching, straight against the seat back with their knees bent over the seat edge.
-
All children under 8 years old must be in a rear passenger seat unless all rear seats are occupied by children under 8 years old or the vehicle does not have rear seats. Any child in the front passenger seat must be in the appropriate child safety seat for their age.