More than 700 children a year in Texas are injured due to motor vehicle crashes. And three out of four car seats are installed wrong. Having a car seat, and making sure it is installed properly, can help lessen the chances of injury and death in an accident. That’s why UMC wants to partner with caretakers to protect the children of our region by providing a free car seat to those in need!
UMC Trauma & Burn Services has offered a Car Seat Safety Program, through the Safe Riders Traffic Safety Program, for a little over three years now. However, this program had to be put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very excited that the program can now be safely resumed!
Through this car seat safety program, any parent, caregiver or expecting parent in the last trimester of pregnancy who is in need of a car seat can attend a one-hour car seat safety class and receive a FREE car seat.
Car Seat Class dates for 2021 are:
- June 25
- July 23
- August 27
- September 24
- October 22
To register for a class, please call 806.761.0660.
“We are so excited to finally be able to support the community in this way again,” said Melissa Sickles, UMC Trauma & Burn Services Program Coordinator. “There are so many preventable injuries to kids, especially young ones. A car accident at any speed can cause serious long-term consequences to an unrestrained child, that could result in serious harm or death. A properly installed and fitted car seat can be a lifesaving means of protection, but car seats can be costly. We have an opportunity here to provide this resource to the community, so we want to be sure the need is met!”
Through the program, UMC Trauma & Burn Services also performs car seat check-ups for caregivers who already have car seats installed in their vehicles. This is a free service in which our certified car seat technicians can help make sure car seats are installed safely and correctly.
For more information about UMC’s Car Seat Safety Program, visit: bit.ly/umc-car-seat
About UMC Health System
UMC Health System is a national award-winning health system comprised of over 4,600 team members and more than 30 care locations. We are proud to partner with two outstanding healthcare organizations: UMC Physicians and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to provide the West Texas and Eastern New Mexico regions with the best in care. At UMC, Our Passion is You. Whether you are managing a chronic condition, dealing with an unexpected illness, or simply working to stay healthy. Our goal is to be your healthcare partner. Wherever you are in your life’s journey, UMC is there with you every step of the way. We are passionate about getting you well and helping you stay that way.