HARRISONBURG, Va. – A week full of great community events has arrived as the Harrisonburg Fire Department works to keep young passengers safe and sound.
HFD will team with Safe Kids Worldwide to celebrate National Child Passenger Safety Week from Sept. 17 to 23 – a week dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing and using car seats,
booster seats and seat belts.

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death among children, and the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 710 children under the age of 14 were killed in passenger vehicles in 2021, and more than 100,000 were injured.

HFD is hoping hard work in Harrisonburg can help reduce those numbers. The department provides free car seat checks Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the year as well as free car seats to income-eligible families.

“We want to empower the community to keep their children safe one seat at a time,” HFD Child Passenger Safety Technician Bri Petit said. “Please ensure your child’s car seat or booster seat is installed correctly and is the appropriate seat for your
child’s age and size. Don’t wait, book your appointment with us today!”

In addition to the regular car seat checks HFD provides throughout the year, the department is hosting a series of events to celebrate National Child Passenger Safety Week. Those include:

• Sentara Hospital (2010 Health Campus Drive) – Sept. 19 from 3 to 6 p.m.
• McDonalds (98 S. Carlton St.) – Sept. 20 from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Elon Rhodes Early Learning Center (474 Linda Lane) – Sept. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Find more information on the child safety seat program at https://harrisonburgva.gov/child-safety-seat-inspections.