OGDENSBURG -- To help parents find out if their children are protected in their vehicles, the Ogdensburg Fire Department and the St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program are hosting a car seat check on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the firehouse, 718 Ford St.

Car seat checks are opportunities for parents and caregivers to learn about choosing and using the best restraints for their children. Certified technicians will demonstrate how to secure the seats using seat belts, locking clips, or the LATCH system. There is no cost for the service.

Those who wish to attend the car seat check should bring their child in the current car seat, and if they have them, also both the car seat instruction booklet, and the vehicle owner’s manual.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 60 percent of car seats are installed or adjusted incorrectly and 38 percent of children killed in accidents were injured by being unrestrained.

“Every 33 seconds in 2016, a child under 13 was involved in a crash,” said Carrie Conger of St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety. “It is important to keep up on a child’s car seat, proper installation and the proper fit for your child makes a difference in the safety of the child.”

In addition to the November event, there are local programs where parents can have seats checked by appointment. Information about these services can be found on the Safe New York web site http://www.safeny.ny.gov/seat-per.htm or by calling Conger at 315-386-2207. Parents and caregivers can also view more information on car seat safety and locate a certified child passenger safety technician at www.nhtsa.gov/carseat.