DARLINGTON — The City of Darlington Police Department and Family Connections of Southwest Wisconsin hosted a child safety seat event on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Lafayette County Highway Department.  The drive-thru event was aimed at increasing awareness of child safety seat laws in Wisconsin and proper installation of car seats.    

According to the CDC, properly installed car seats can reduce the risk for injury in a crash by as much as 82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone. Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children age 4-8, when compared with seat belt use alone. For these reasons, Wisconsin law requires children to be in a car seat until they reach age 4 and 40 pounds, and in a booster seat until they reach age 8, more than 80 pounds in weight, or more than 4 ft. 9 in. tall.

The Darlington event had a steady flow of cars and participants who learned about proper car seat installation and had the opportunity to have their existing seats inspected. Thanks to a grant from the Wisconsin Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board, free car seats were given to anyone who had faulty or no car seats.

Anyone who missed the event but would like to learn more about proper installation, or who is in need of a car seat, may call Family Connections of Southwest Wisconsin at 608-348-2846 to learn more.