As featured in The Lake Gazette
September 19, 2007

Cecilia Baker of Monroe City was among the parents participating in the free child safety seat check provided at the Pamida store in Monroe City on Thursday, Sept. 13 in conjunction with Baby Safety Month.

Baker, who has a 5-year-old daughter and is expecting another child, was having an infant car seat checked.

“The seat was given to me, and I did not know for sure if it was safe,” Baker explained. “However, now I feel good about it,” Baker said after the seat had been checked by a technician and declared safe. A technician installed the seat to make certain that it fit properly, and then taught Baker the procedure to install it correctly.
Missouri law requires all children under the age of eight to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 pounds or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Branson Wells, supervisor for Marion County 9-1-1 and a certified technician, explained that the since Baker was an expectant mother, the seat was installed so that it faced the rear of the car.

Facing the rear protects a young child’s neck and spinal cord from violent crash forces and is very important until a child is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds.
There were a total of 20 participants, with six car seats being checked and one child safety car seat given away.

“Our goal is to teach parents the correct way to install the seats,” Wells stated.

Wells then explained that parents who cannot afford a child safety seat, can obtain one at the Marion County Health Department for a donation of $10. He said the Health Department received the new child safety seats through a state grant.

Lori Warden was the winner of the basket of baby safety items given away in a drawing by Pamida to promote baby safety.