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Officials offer car seat checks

By Josh Lanier | Independent Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

Over the past 10 years, Concord firefighter Norman Franklin has inspected hundreds of car seats, but he's only seen a handful that were installed properly.
Problems can include tethers improperly anchored or straps too loose. Improper users run the gamut from first-time parents to seasoned moms and dads.
That's why the Concord Department of Fire and Life Safety has teamed up with Safe Kids Cabarrus to help parents make sure their children are safe when riding in the car.
"Most people think that what they're doing is for the safety of their child but they're overlooking some instructions or they're misreading them," Franklin said. "That's why we always ask people to bring (the car seats) to us so we can inspect them and teach them the best way to insert them."
Concord firefighters will be at the Baby R' Us Saturday from 10 until 2 offering free car seat checks and installation tips to parents. Firefighters expect to inspect between 50 to 75 car seats during the event.
It's the first of two events where firefighters will be offering free car seat checks.
Sept. 20 at Larry King Chevrolet in Kannapolis, Kannapolis and Concord firefighters and Safe Kid Cabarrus representatives will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This event will be the kick-off celebration of Child Passenger Safety Week and Kannapolis Kares, a government and civic based event.
"You children are your most precious possessions and it's important to make sure they're protected as much as possible," Concord Fire and Life Educator Amanda Butler said. "That's why we do this because we can instruct the public on how to protect children as best as possible."

• Contact reporter Josh Lanier: 704-789-9144

If you go
For a free car seat check, parents can visit:

• Concord Fire Station No. 3 at 100 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday
• Kannapolis Fire Station No. 1 at 300 Firehouse Drive the last Friday of every month.
• At any other times, appointments can be made. To reach Kannapolis Fire Department, call 704-920-4260. Concord firefighters may be reached at 704-920-5516.