For Child Safety Week 2015 (June 1-7), make sure your child’s car seat is fitted properly - and you can get it checked for free at Halfords.
To give mums, dads and grandparents reassurance that they not only have the right car seat but that it is fitted to deliver maximum protection, Halfords is offering to check them – regardless of the seat make, model or where it was purchased – for free at any store during Child Safety Week this year.
Child Safety Week is an annual campaign run by the Child Accident Prevention Trust to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented.
Danielle Slater, Halfords child seat product manager, said: “We know that child safety is the number one priority for customers purchasing a car seat. However, whilst we ensure every seat that we sell is fitted properly when it’s first purchased they are often removed for use in a second car or loaned to grandparents, which can mean they aren’t correctly fitted again when re-installed.
“Safety groups estimate that as many as 51 per cent of child car seats in use are incorrectly fitted – so we are using Child Safety Week to help raise awareness of the danger and offering free car seat checks at all of our stores to give customers peace of mind. We want to ensure that every parent, grandparent and carer is confident when refitting their car seat.”
Halfords is currently the only child car seat retailer whose car seat fitting training is accredited by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and has also made a commitment to improving child seat safety by signing the Which? Child Seat Best Practice Charter.
When choosing a car seat for your child, follow Halfords’ top tips:
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Double check that the seat you want is appropriate for both the size and weight of your child, and your car. Did you know, for example, forward facing car seats can only be used for children over 9kg that can sit unaided and support their own head?
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Think about how you will be using the seat, if you will be taking it in and out of the car is it convenient to secure?
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When fitting the car seat, make sure it is stable with no excessive forwards or sideways movement.
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Remove all loose items from where the seat will be fitted – and never fit to a seat with an airbag.
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Look out for side impact protection for extra safety just in case.
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To cater for a growing child, look out for adjustable headrest and harness so the seat can grow with them.