Henry County Health Center offers a free service to help keep area children safe. HCHC offers a free Child Passenger Safety Fit Station by appointment. Each family who calls will be scheduled for a 30-minute time slot by calling HCHC at (319) 385-3141.
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available at the Emergency Medical Services garage, located on the south side of HCHC, to inspect child safety seats, and to teach parents the correct and safe ways to install and use child restraint seats. The technicians have all attended a four-day training, are required to meet specific standards, and are re-certified every two years.
Common child safety seat misuses include seats installed too loosely, improper seating position, not buckling child into restraint, not securely anchoring the child restraint to the vehicle, improper seat for child's age and size, infant riding forward facing, harness retainer clip not at armpit level, and loose harness straps.
Iowa's Child Restraint Law requires the following:
- A child under 1 year old and weighing less than 20 lbs. must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system;
- A child under 6 years old must be secured in a child restraint system (a safety seat or booster seat NOT a seat belt);
- A child from the age of 6 up to the age of 11 must be secured in a child restraint system or by a safety belt.
For more information on HCHC's Child Passenger Safety Fit Station or to schedule an appointment, call HCHC at (319) 385-3141.