Child Safety Alert: Free Car Seat Help Available in Louisiana

(99.9 KTDY) - The most essential thing in a parent's vehicle is the equipment that helps to protect the lives of their children, and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is offering free events for caregivers to learn the appropriate way to use these items.

Why Car Seat Safety Matters in Louisiana

Yes, every car seat, booster seat, and vehicle comes with a user's manual, but the majority of people who use these pieces of safety equipment are not using them correctly, leaving the possibility open that children can be harmed or killed.

The Shocking Truth: 96% of Car Seats Misused

The statistics provided by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission are astonishing. It is estimated that 96% of child restraints are misused.

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It's no one's fault, but reading instructions on a child safety seat can be challenging to understand, and even when you think you are doing things right, it usually isn't done correctly.

How to Get Free Car Seat Safety Help

There are various places across the state where you can get free assistance.

Even if you don't think your child's seat is installed incorrectly, it's a good idea to check.

Louisiana Locations Offering Free Car Seat Checks

Acadia Parish

Eunice Police Department, 300 S. Second St., Eunice, LA 70535 Sgt. Jessica Tezeno 337.457.2626 jvidrine@eunicepd.com Thursdays: 2–6 pm

SWLA Center for Health Services 526 Crowley Rayne Highway Crowley, LA 70526 Alisa Stevens Nasheika Malbreaux 337.912.8515 337.936.0114 astevens@swlahealth.org or nmalbreaux@swlahealth.org Appointment only

Lafayette Parish

Independent Station – Lafayette Tracy LeMaire 337.288.9937 lemairetracy@yahoo.com Appointment only Louisiana State Police Troop I *CARFIT* 121 E. Pont Des Mouton Lafayette, LA 70507 Thomas Gossen 337.262.5880 Wednesdays 8 am–Noon

Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office *CARFIT* 110 Grissom Dr. Lafayette, LA 70508 Amy Daigle William Ritchey 337.456.6596 or 337.739.2696 Monday–Friday 8 am–4:30 pm Appointment only

Ochsner-Lafayette General 1214 Coolidge St. Lafayette, LA 70503 Dana Ortego 337.289.7482 dana.ortego@ochsner.org Appointment only

The Family Tree 1602 W. Pinhook Rd. Suite 100A Lafayette, LA 70508 337.981.2180 Appointment only

Blasé Inzina Injury Attorneys (Habla Espanol) 415 South Pierce St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Reyna Velasquez 337.347.7177 Reyna@blaseinzina.com Contact for appointment on Fridays

Broussard Police Department 414 E. Main St. Broussard, LA 70518 Tyler Daigle 337.837.6259 tdaigle@broussardpolice.com Appointment only

The Extra Mile *CARFIT* 720 St. John St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Tiffany Carroll 337.652.9665 Anttif09@yahoo.com Appointment only

SWLA Center for Health Services 500 Patterson St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Alisa Stevens Nasheika Malbreaux 337.912.8515 337.936.0114 astevens@swlahealth.org or nmalbreaux@swlahealth.org Appointment only

Youngsville Police Department 311 Lafayette St. Youngsville, LA 70592 Reginald Mosely 337-856-5931 337.450.3064 reginald.mosely@ youngsvillepd.org Monday–Friday 8 am–4 pm or by appointment.

St. Landry Parish

Opelousas General 539 E. Prudhomme St. Opelousas, LA 70570 Lauryn Allgood 337.594.3982 LaurynAllgood@ opelousasgeneral.com Appointment only

St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office 1592 E. Prudhomme St. Opelousas, LA 70570 Lt. Ashley Boudreaux 337.948.6516 aboudreaux@slpsheriff.com Appointment only

St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish Patterson Police Dept. Cypress Point Fresh Market 500 US-90 Patterson, LA 70392 Ofc. Douglas Perry 985.395.6161 dperry@pattersonpd.org Contact for availability

St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office 500 Main St. Franklin, LA 70538 or 1455 Railroad Ave. Morgan City, LA 70380 337.828.1960 Blake Giroir giroir@stmaryso.com or Chad Ledet ledet@stmaryso.com Appointment only

Chitimacha Tribal Police Department 211 Coushatta Dr. Charenton, LA 70523 Sara Labiche or Tonya Ware 337.923.4964 Sara@chitimacha.gov or Tonyab@chitimacha.gov Appointment only