Car seat grant awarded to Long County Health Department

LONG COUNTY, Ga. (WTGS) — The Car Seat Mini-Grant was awarded to the Long County Health Department by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention.

This funding will ensure that parents and caregivers know how to properly install and use car seats, offer car seat inspections, and supply car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families, according to a release sent out on Monday.

This program funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, will help create a secure environment on the road and protect the children of Georgia.

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Car seats help aid in the protection of children in the event of a crash, when installed correctly.

The grant has been educating the public on car and booster seats since 2007 and has even saved over 425 of Georgia's children who were involved in vehicle crashes.

Car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in cars, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Approximately 3 out of every 4 car seats are not installed or used properly, placing children at high risk to be injured in the event of a crash, according to DPH.

The grant will provide more than 120 counties with the support needed to help ensure the safety of children.

Appointments are required for car seat inspection and distribution.

For more information about the car seat program, call the Long County Health Department at 912-545-2107