Free child car seat inspections offered

Sept. 28--Child car seat inspectors from the Owensboro Police Department will be at the Owensboro Convention Center on Friday, Sept. 28, to provide free safety inspections.

The event is sponsored by Allstate, Gregory Insurance Group. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kirsten Brown, an agent with Gregory Insurance Group, said the agency held a similar event in the spring, which attracted about 50 people.

Brown said the idea was to provide a convenient way for people to have their car seats inspected, to make sure they are installed properly and haven't been subject to recall by the manufacturer.

"Not a lot of people have time to make an appointment" to have their car seat inspected, Brown said. Agencies in town do provide car seat inspections but usually require an appointment, Brown said.

"For people to be able to drive by, no appointment needed, is helpful," Brown said. "After you have a kid, you don't have a lot of time" to coordinate getting a car seat inspected, Brown said.

OPD officers will inspect all brands of car seats to make sure they are correctly installed and meet safety requirements. If a seat if found to be deficient or has been recalled by the maker, Gregory Insurance Group officials will have applications on hand where people can apply to receive a free car seat through Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, Brown said.

"There so much more that goes into installing a car seat," Brown said. "There's a lot you learn by watching these car seat technicians doing what they do."

Brown said the idea for the event came from members of the office having children of their own and from seeing the results of vehicle accidents.

"When someone brings in a car seat (from an accident), the first thing that comes to my mind is, 'is the kid OK?' " Brown said.

In addition, there will be information of road safety and a raffle, Brown said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, [email protected], Twitter: @JamesMayse

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