For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 10 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Burlington Police Department Receives Child Passenger Safety Grant 

BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Kent is pleased to announce that the Burlington Police Department received a Child Passenger Safety grant that will be used to purchase car seats for distribution to local families in need.

The Burlington Police Department received $3,500 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Office of Grants and Research-Highway Safety Division.

“We are extremely grateful to receive this grant allocation to continue to ensure that families have properly installed car and booster seats by working with one of our certified technicians,” Chief Kent said.

Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for children of all ages nationwide. Properly installed car and booster seats have been proven to reduce the risk of death and injury to children involved in crashes, yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 60 percent of all seats are installed incorrectly.

State law requires all children riding in passenger motor vehicles to be in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions until they are 8 years old or over 57 inches tall. When children outgrow their booster seats, they must wear a seat belt.

The Burlington Police Department is one of more than 235 car seat inspection sites in Massachusetts with certified technicians available to ensure children’s seats are installed correctly.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security awarded more than $190,000 to 58 local police and fire departments, nonprofit agencies and hospitals in this round of grant allocations.

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