National Child Passenger Safety Week will be Sept. 15 to 21 this year, with inspections available in Massena and Gouverneur.

Car seat check-ups will be conducted throughout the state to increase public awareness about the misuse of car seats and the importance of using the seats properly.

The checkpoints will include car seat inspections by “child passenger safety professionals,” according to St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program staffers. Staffers will check car seats for proper installation and offer advice on choosing car seats.

The national campaign is designed to make sure caregivers properly secure children, from birth to age 12, in the right restraint and to ensure seats are properly used and installed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration three out of every four car seats are not used correctly. Failure to read and follow the instructions included with the car seat or vehicle owner's manual can lead to incorrect installation, exposing a child to risk of serious injury or death.

According to NHTSA 2011 crash test data nearly two children under age 13 were killed and 338 were injured every day in vehicle crashes. In 2011, over one third of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. In New York nearly 8,500 children ages birth to 15 are treated yearly in hospitals for injuries from a motor vehicle crash.

Seat checks will be offered in Massena Monday, Sept. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Massena Fire Department, 34 Andrews St. A Gouverneur check will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at the fire hall, 1035 US Hwy 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring the child’s car seat manual and the vehicle owner’s manual.

For county listings of year-round events visit www.safeny.ny.gov/events.htm. For more information contact the St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program at 379-2306 or mdavison@stlawco.org.