Fall Fitness Event Announced!

 

National Seat Check Monday!

Alexander County Partnership for Children and Alexander County Sherriff’s Department today announced it will conduct a “National Seat Check Monday” event on Sept. 17^th at Alexander County Family YMCA.  Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand from 4:30-6:30pm to check car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers how to choose the right car seats and install them properly in their vehicles.  The event, part of Taylorsville’s participation in Child Passenger Safety Week on Sept. 17 is free to the public.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13.  Crash data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 2010 shows that about 2 children 12 or younger were killed and 325 were injured each day in passenger vehicles.

 “You can never predict or control what other drivers might do or how the weather might change the safety of a roadway,” said Leah Bumgarner. “The best way to protect your kids is to put them in the right car seats for their age and size and use those seats correctly on every trip, every time. By attending Taylorsville’s car seat event on National Seat Check Monday, parents and caregivers can be sure their kids are riding as safely as possible.”

She also urged parents to follow NHTSA’s car seat recommendations that recommend parents and caregivers keep children in their restraint types for as long as possible according to manufacturer instructions before moving them to the next type. For maximum safety, a parent or caregiver should have the car seat installation inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure their children are in the right seats for their age and size.  Children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat. 

Birth – 12 months

For the best possible protection, your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 years

Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. This may result in many children riding rear-facing to age 2 or older. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4 – 7 years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until the child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 years 

Keep your child in a booster seat until the child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.

Remember:

·         Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, choose a seat that fits in your vehicle, and use it on every trip, every time.

·         Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.

·         To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.

·         Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

Car Seat Clinic Announced

Alexander County Partnership for Children announces a Car Seat Clinic at Salem Sloan Child Enrichment Center, 4485 Old Mountain Road, Stony Point, on Tuesday, August 21st, 3:30 to 5:30.  Appointments are not necessary.  Call the partnership office at 828-632-3799 for more information.

Outgoing Board Members Recognized

Alexander County Partnership for Children recently recognized outgoing board members Dale Clary, Maria Southers, and Paula Daniels.  Susan Cogdill, Executive Director, thanked outgoing board members for their service and dedication to the young children of Alexander County.  Collectively the outgoing board members provided sixteen years of service.  The Alexander County Partnership for Children is a local Smart Start initiative that works to ensure children enter school health and ready to succeed.  For more information visit the partnership website:  www.alexanderchildren.org.  Alexander County Partnership for Children is a United Way agency.

The Stars Just keep Shining in June

Ms. Dara Grinton is the assistant teacher in the infant classroom at Lulu’s Child Enrichment Center.  She has been observed consistently performing an appropriate diaper change and hand-washing procedure. Dara is aware of the developmentally appropriate milestones for all of the children she provides primary care giving for on a daily basis.  It is obvious to outside observers that Dara enjoys her position and that the children she cares for are greatly loved!

 

Mrs. Sheri Hamrick is the owner of All God’s Children Family Child Care Home. She has been observed being consistently loving of all the children in her family child care home.  Sheri consistently utilizes the proper hand-washing technique.  She ensures that children get beyond the allotted one- hour time frame of outside/ active play daily.  The active play time ensures that all children learn from an early age the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.