Leopold Law, P.A. to Hold ‘Seat Check Saturday’ Event at Hand Park, Belle Glade

Sept. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- PALM BEACH GARDENS and BELLE GLADE, Fla.- On National Seat Check Saturday, Leopold Law, P.A. in partnership with Safe Kids Palm Beach County and Bridges at Belle Glade, will be offering  free booster seats to 75 children who have outgrown their child safety seat.  This event marks the last day of National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 16-22) and is free to the public.

EVENT DETAILS  
When:  Saturday, September 22, 2012
Time:  9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where:  Hand Park, Belle Glade (across from Covenant Village)
Notes:  First Come, First Served. Certified technicians and child safety advocates will provide free booster seats, car seat inspections and information for parents and caregivers.  

Florida is one of the last states in the Union to allow children ages 4 and older to ride in an automobile without the use of a child safety seat. Currently, 48 states and the District of Columbia have some form of a booster seat law, with Florida and South Dakota as the remaining holdout states.  Best practice found in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Child Passenger Safety Certification Program recommends booster seats for children who have outgrown child restraints with harnesses prior to moving into a seat belt alone.

A child's body is often not developed to withstand the force of a seatbelt, which can act as a wire across the body in a crash. While children are expected to ride in the back seat, most vehicle manuals indicate that it is not designed for their protection.  A booster seat is critical to child passenger safety in Florida.  Children seated in a booster seat in the rear of the car are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash as compared to those using a seat belt alone.

For over a decade, child safety advocates have lobbied for a new standard for child passenger safety in Florida.  During the 2011 legislative session, Sen. Altman and Rep. Steinberg proposed booster seat bills (Senate Bill 196 and House Bill 151 respectively).  Unfortunately, the legislation failed to pass through the House Transportation committee.  A coalition of almost 100 partners, ranging from hospitals to law enforcement, are preparing to lobby this issue again during the 2013 legislative session.  

Leopold Law, P.A. (http://www.leopold-law.com) is proud to partner with the City of Belle Glade and sponsor this community initiative.  Over the past year, the law firm has provided over 200 families with free child seats in hopes of significantly reducing the chance of an injury during a collision.   We will continue to work with community and political leaders to raise awareness on the importance of booster seats and promote the safety of children in our community.