Eagle Pass Police Department hosted Child I.D. and Car Seat Safety Check Program
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
The Eagle Pass Police Department hosted a Child I.D. and Car Seat Safety Check Program for local children and parents on September 26, 2015 at Burlington Coal Factory in Mall de las Aguilas in Eagle Pass, Texas. The purpose of the program was to promote child safety and protection in the community, said Detective Hazel Diaz. Joining Diaz was Police Officer Humberto Garza, Jr. and volunteers.
The program included getting children finger printed to protect them, teaching proper safety car seats installation procedures, reviewing safety car seats in citizens automobiles, and safety tips to protect children in the community.
The Eagle Pass Police Department through their monthly departmental reports has reported a total of 1,636 motor vehicle accident incidents in the past 11 months from September 2014 to August 24, 2015 in Eagle Pass. In many of these accidents, there are children involved as passengers. Of these accidents, 353 have been reported as Hit and Run Accidents.
“The Eagle Pass Police Department offers several programs and seminars during the year to teach children and parents about car seats installation, child identifications through finger printing, and important safety tips,” said Police Officer Humberto Garza, Jr.
“We are here bringing awareness on the importance of safeguarding your child in every possible way and we invite the community to participate in our many events throughout the year,” said Detective Hazel Diaz.
The Eagle Pass Police Department offers free car seat installation checks by appointment at the EPPD located at 110 S. Monroe Street. You can set up an appointment by calling Humberto Garza, Jr. at (830) 773-9044, extension 2063.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 14 years old or younger. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that roughly three out of four child safety seats are not used correctly.
TXDOT yearly crash report by age shows that in 2014 there were a total of 2,054 deaths by motor vehicle accident in the State of Texas of which 95 (14%) of them involved children ten years old and younger as passengers.
During 2014, TXDOT reported that 6 children of the ages 10 years old were killed in motor vehicle accidents, 12 nine years old’s, 8 eight year old’s , 8 seven year old’s, 9 six year old’s, 10 five year old’s, 9 four year old’s, 8 three year old’s, 8 two year old’s, 5 one year old’s, and 12 unborn and up to the age of eleven months. The TXDOT Restraint Use by Age and Severity Fatalities report shows that 33 of the children killed in motor vehicle accidents throughout the State were unrestrained and 54 were restrained during the vehicle accidents that took their lives.
The Eagle Pass Police Department recognizes the importance of safety while driving or while in a passenger vehicle and continuously promotes such safety including Child Restraint Seat Safety (Car Seat).
