Thanks to $5,000 in grants from three local WalMart stores, Harris County sheriff’s deputies recently obtained and installed nearly 30 child safety seats in residents’ vehicles free of charge through the Sheriff’s Office storefront at the East Aldine Management District Town Center.
Sgt. Terry Garza, who acquired the WalMart grants and says more are on the way, provides knowledgeable advice to parents and other adults to take advantage of the free seats and installations.
Garza describes how to adjust the seats as children grow. And she hopes anyone who transports young children in vehicles learn how to use them correctly.
“One woman who recently came into the office had an infant secured only by a pillow,” Garza said.
Texas law requires all children under the age of 10 (or under 4 feet, 9 inches tall) to ride in safety seats. But the seats aren’t cheap.
“We are providing these because child safety seats can be very expensive,” Garza said. They range in price from $70 to $140.
The sergeant strongly advises parents to resist the temptation to buy child safety seats at flea markets or garage sales. Many of them have been used for years and therefore are no longer safe.
And if a child’s car seat has been in a vehicle involved in a collision, the law requires that seat to be replaced since its safety can be severely compromised. But there’s no way to tell if a used car seat has been damaged, Garza explained.
During the process of installing car seats, Garza said, she can tell when a parent has not been using the safety devices.
“Kids who haven’t been in a car seat will cry or scream. That will stop once they start using the seats every time they get into the car,” Garza said.
Because of recent publicity about children being accidentally left in car seats during the dangerous summer heat, Garza advises parents and guardians to leave an important item, like a purse or cell phone, in the backseat with the child during travel. Then nothing or no one will be forgotten.
Besides, it’s never a good idea to use a cell phone when driving with small kids in the vehicle.
Garza also advises parents against using child seats in the front passenger seat.
“I understand that many people drive small trucks, so it might be unavoidable. In that case, I advise them to deactivate the passenger air bag, which could severely injure a small child,” Garza said.
Younger children should always ride in rear-facing car seats, Garza said. As children get older, they can “graduate” to booster seats.
Because of the nationwide infant formula shortage, Garza decided to purchase formula, too, when it reappeared on WalMart shelves.
She gives away formula with the car seats.
“It has been a great incentive to get parents to come in for the free car seats,” she said.
The Storefront Office also provides free gun locks for parents who want to keep their children safe from firearms stored at home.
“We are doing all we can to make sure that the kids in East Aldine are safe,” Garza said. “We want people to know that the car seats and other safety devices are free.”
The Storefront Office is just inside the East Aldine Management District’s Town Center building at 2909 East Aldine Amphitheater Drive.
Car seat installations are done in the shaded portico from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
— by Anne Marie Kilday
