Safe Kids Johnson County in partnership with State Farm® and McCarthy Chevrolet invites families, caregivers, grandparents and anyone who transports children to a Community Buckle Up Event on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McCarthy Chevrolet, 675 N. Rawhide, Olathe, Kansas 66061 (inside the service department—just drive in).

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on-site to inspect child car seats and their installation. The event is first come, first checked, and aims to ensure that every child leaves safer than when they arrived. Technicians will look for missing pieces, expired seats, incorrect seat types for a child's age or size, improper installation and counterfeit seats. They will also provide personalized education to caregivers about proper car seat use.

"Every time you buckle up your child the right way, you’re taking a powerful step to keep them safe," said Marty Vinson, CPST at the JCDHE. "It might seem small, but it’s one of the most important things you do each day."

National data shows that three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This free event is part of Safe Kids Johnson County's Buckle Up Program and a celebration of Safe Kids Month during May. Safe Kids Johnson County is a children's injury prevention coalition committed to reducing the risk of preventable injuries in children from birth through age 18.