Blood Lead Testing Services
Child Safety Seat Resources
Out of all residents in Clark County, Indiana, over 7,000 are under the age of four years old and by state law, are required to be properly restrained in a child safety seat when riding in a vehicle (5,3). In fact, any child under the age of eight must be restrained appropriately in a child safety seat or a booster (3). Although many caregivers are aware of the safety restraint laws, many are likely unaware the law also requires the child to be properly fastened and restrained according to the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions (2).
Even though these laws have been in place for quite some time, injuries and violence continue to be the number one leading causes of death in the United States (6). In 2021, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration reported 863 children killed in traffic crashes and 308 of those children were unrestrained (4). In general, caregivers want to protect the children they care for to the best of their ability. But considering some of the newest car seats on the market have user manuals over eighty pages long, ensuring a child is safely secured can seem like a daunting task (1).
The Clark County Health Department currently has four Child Passenger Safety Technicians (or CPST’s) on staff and available by appointment Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Our staff are excited to help the caregivers in Clark County determine the safest and easiest way for children to travel. Every trip, every time.
(1) babyark. (2024). User Guides. https://babyark.com/pages/user-guides
(2) Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles §§ 9-19-11-2 (2022)
(3) Indiana State Police. (2023, November 20). Child passenger safety. ISP.
(4) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Facts 2021 Data: Children (Report No DOT HS 813 456). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis; May 2023.
(5) STATSIndiana. (n.d.). Clark County, Indiana. InDepth Profile: STATS Indiana.
(6) U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2023, October 25). Injuries and violence are leading causes of death. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additional Child Safety Seat resources:
Guide with Basic Car Seat Tips and Tricks
Car Seat Product List and Prices
Child Restraint System Laws Across the United States
Indiana State Police Child Restraint Laws and Seat Belt Laws
FREE Online Car Seat Basics Course for Caregivers (one hour long)
Vehicle Recall Search (license plate number or VIN number)
FREE Safe Sleep Program & Adult/Child/Infant CPR Certification
