KRGV.com

EDINBURG - Securing your children properly in age- and size-appropriate child safety seats - in the back seat of your vehicle - is the most effective thing you can do to protect them in the event of a crash. In fact, in motor vehicle crashes, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. Unfortunately, misuse and non-use of child safety seats remain high.

South Texas Health System is hosting the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program this Thursday and Friday (March 8 & 9) at Edinburg Regional Medical Center. A total of 24 technician candidates including hospital staff, Extension agents, Department of State Health Service employees, social workers, police officers, state troopers and TxDOT safety employees will be taking a 3 ½ day course in order to become certified as child passenger safety technicians and help parents with education on child safety seats. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service Passenger Safety Project in cooperation with TxDOT is conducting the course this week at the hospital. This nationally standardized training provides education for community professionals to educate parents on the correct selection, use and installation of child safety seats. Newly certified technicians will be able to help inspect child safety seats and educate parents on best practice for transporting their children safely.

For more information, call 388-2036.