Norton Fire Department Offering Free Car Seat Safety Inspections 

NORTON —  Fire Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department invite parents and caregivers to have their car seats inspected by a certified car seat technician. 

The Norton Fire Department will have a certified car seat technician on-site to inspect installed car seats and make adjustments as needed. Those seeking inspections are asked to bring both the car seat and vehicle manual to check for compatibility. 

Those interested in having their car seats inspected must make an appointment with the department ahead of time. Appointments can be made online on the Norton Fire Department Website.

Individuals making an appointment must fill out the form online and the certified car seat technician will then contact you to schedule an appointment. Community members can also contact Deputy Chief Michael Wilson at wilsonm@nortonfire.com or Lt. Josh Jorge at jorgej@nortonfire.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.

“It can be difficult to tell if a car seat is installed properly, but it is the most important safety feature parents can use to keep their children safe while driving,” Chief Simmons said. “We encourage parents and caregivers to make an appointment and ensure their children are at a lower risk for injury if an accident occurs.” 

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of death for children in the U.S. Properly securing children in age and size-appropriate car seats greatly lowers the risk of serious and fatal injuries. The CDC reports that: 

• Car seat use reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 71-82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone.
• Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children ages 4-8, when compared with seat belt use alone.
• For older children and adults, seat belt use reduces the risk of death and serious injury by about half.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly. 

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