Low-income families could be eligible to receive free car seats

By By Steve Gillespie/staff writer
Jan. 7, 2002
Low-income families could be eligible to receive free car seats Wednesday in a giveaway sponsored by the Boost America campaign.
The event is set for 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at New South Ford on 1200 North Frontage Road. Representatives from the United Way of East Mississippi will qualify families for the booster seats.
Boost America is a highway safety campaign created by Ford and 29 other national organizations. Its goal: to inform parents that car booster seats ensure safe travel for children.
Child safety specialists recruited by Mississippi SAFE KIDS a childhood injury prevention program will be at New South Ford to help determine if children 4 and over need car booster seats.
The specialists also will be able to check booster seats and make sure they are properly installed.
Mississippi SAFE KIDS recommends that 40- to 80-pound children be restrained in booster seats that lift a child so that a car's lap and shoulder belts fit snug over the shoulder, the hips and upper thighs.
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Deputy Dale Rosenbaum said he would like to see more parents educated about child restraints. Rosenbaum is a certified child restraint system technician.
State law requires that children under 4 must be restrained in a safety seat. But just because a child reaches age 4, Rosenbaum said, "that doesn't mean take them out of safety seats."
For more information on child safety seats, contact Wallace at Mississippi SAFE KIDS at (877) 706-8741 or call Rosenbaum at the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department at 482-9897.
Car seat giveaway
Louis Sutton, president of United Way of East Mississippi, gave the following guidelines for receiving free car booster seats on Wednesday:
A family of two can earn up to $28,125 and be eligible to receive free car seats.
Applicants can increase the income ceiling by $7,250 for each
additional family member.
Families must bring proof of income, such as a check stub or proof of public assistance, to New South Ford between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday.