Hospital highlights

Learn how to install a child’s car seat at the Concrete River Festival this weekend. Whitman Hospital and Medical Center will have a car seat safety booth on Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eells Park. Certified child safety technicians will be available to help teach parents and families how to select and install the proper child restraint.

Did you know that road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States? Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent. Seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, check your car seat! Follow these simple steps to ensure the safety for you and your loved ones:

Learn how to properly install your child’s car seat – refer to the owner’s manual or consult with a car seat safety technician. Also note that all car seats expire – for questions contact a car seat safety technician.

Buy a used car seat only if you know its full crash history. That means you must buy it from someone you know, not from a thrift store or over the Internet. Once a car seat has been in a crash, it needs to be replaced.

We know that when adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts. So be a good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too.

Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. While it may be tempting to dash out for a quick errand, the temperature inside your car can rise 20 degrees and cause heatstroke in the time it takes for you to run in and out of the store.

If you miss us at the Concrete River Festival please contact Whitman Hospital to have your car seat checked – 509-397-3435.

Debbie Glass, CEO

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center