Spring ISD Offers Free Car Seat Inspections For Families

HOUSTON — The Spring ISD Police Department, along with Cypress Creek EMS, Safe Kids of Greater Houston, and Texas Children's Hospital teamed up this week to offer free inspections of child safety seats. The event took place on Tuesday at Thompson Elementary in Spring ISD , where families and lined up at the second annual event to make sure their children are safe.

"One of the common things that we are finding here is that the car seat may be a hand-me-down, maybe the brother or sister had it a few years ago, and the parents aren’t sure if it’s expired," said Spring ISD Police Officer Jarrod Morton, who was busy checking seat installation and answering parent questions.

Nicole Peake with Texas Children’s Hospital said often times, child safety seats just are not property installed.

"About four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly, and so we are here to fix that number," said Peake.

Several certified child passenger safety technicians were on hand to help, and making sure that her daughter’s seat was secure was on Regina Hamilton’s mind when she asked for help.

"I recently got it and wasn’t sure that I installed it correctly," Hamilton said as Morton checked on the seat. "It’s nice knowing that you guys are out here supporting the community and making sure that our kids are safe," she said.

Administrators at Thompson Elementary reached out to parents recently, and urged them to participate in the seat inspection event.

"We love what the school offers here, they are always keeping the parents informed and letting the parents know what's going on. Mothers like me are extremely grateful," said Hamilton.

For Nicole Peake, the reward is knowing that children are safer as they head back out on the road.

"Just seeing that parent give a sigh of relief as they leave… or realizing the things that they may have been doing wrong, but now that they can transport their child safely, and it’s one less thing to worry about," she said.

Spring ISD police officer Jarrod Morton performs a car seat inspection for student Kayla Johnson during the district's free Car Seat Check event.