Parents and carers of children are being urged to Check It not Chance It, after free child car seat safety checks provided by Lisburn City Council produced alarming results during National Child Safety Week (18–24 June). Lisburn City Council facilitated the free child car seat safety checks, carried out by experts from Mothercare, Manager Joanne O’Neill and Shop Assistant Emma Thompson, to ensure that car seats are suitable, adequately fitted and safe for transporting a child. It was found that less than half of those checked were satisfactory with approximately one third needing adjustments and a small number unsuitable. Manager from Mothercare, Joanne O’Neill said, “Around 70% of car seats are used incorrectly and so it is vital that anyone caring for a child provides the right child restraint ensuring it is properly fitted. New laws on child car seats require that children up to 135cms in height must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight when travelling in any vehicle.” “The free child car seat safety checks were a very worthwhile and enjoyable event as the safety of children travelling in vehicles is paramount,” she said. The Council provided information and car seat checkpoints at the Dairy Farm Centre, Stewartstown Road on Monday 18th June, and also at Sainsbury’s, Sprucefield on 22nd June to provide valuable advice on regulations governing the way children are carried in vehicles fitted with seat belts. Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter attended the event at Sprucefield and said: “ As a parent with young children I am very aware of the dangers that can be associated with child car seats being fitted incorrectly. I found this event worthwhile as I have been given the opportunity to obtain useful and up to date information, especially in light of the new car seat regulations which came into force this February.” “I would urge parents to always take care that their children travel safely in their cars, and especially in other people’s cars, ensuring that the correct child restraint is used and that it is suitable for the vehicle it is being placed in.” An information leaflet is available on Child Car Seats and the Law. Further advice can be obtained from the Council’s Environmental Health Service. Tel: 028 9250 9250, email: ehealth@lisburn.gov.uk, visit lisburncity.gov.uk or contact Mothercare on Tel: 028 9266 3352.  
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and 12 times as many children as are killed by strangers.