
Safe Kids North Central Florida (SKNCFL) will partner with the High Springs Police Department (HSPD) on Tuesday, August 5th, to host a child passenger safety station from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm during the Annual National Night Out event. HSPD will join thousands of other law enforcement agencies nationwide to celebrate National Night Out, an annual event that strengthens the relationship between the community and law enforcement. This event provides an excellent opportunity to bring police and neighbors together in a positive setting. Activities will include a DJ, free food, backpack and bicycle helmet giveaways, car seat checks, a balloon toss, a bounce house, a water slide, and more! It is a free, family-friendly event. National Night Out will be held at the High Springs Civic Center, located at 19107 NW 240th Street, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The addition of a car seat checkup station is part of the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program, a national initiative dedicated to improving access to education and resources, promoting behavioral changes, and building a safety-conscious culture within families and communities. This event will enable parents and caregivers to have their child safety seats installed for free by a Certified Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).
Sponsored by Safe Kids Worldwide and State Farm, this initiative supports our ongoing mission to reduce the region’s 95% car seat misuse rate. SKNCFL will have more than 15 CPSTs onsite and expects to complete over 60 car seat checks during this 3-hour event. Families can pre-register online through Eventbrite.
The statistics tell an important story:
• Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1-12 in the U.S.
• In 2022, 1 in 4 children under age 13 who died in car crashes were unrestrained, with nearly 2 out of 5 children ages 4-10 in this category. Additionally, it is estimated that over half of all car seats are misused. (Source: NHTSA)
• A properly used child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by up to 71%, while booster seats can lower the risk of serious injury by 45% compared to using seat belts alone. (Source: CDC)
• A recent study by Safe Kids found that 4 out of 5 caregivers moved their child from a booster seat to a seat belt before the child was big enough, significantly increasing the risk of severe abdominal, head, and spinal injuries in a crash. (Sources: Safe Kids and Durbin et al., 2003. "Belt-positioning booster seats and reduction in risk of injury among children in vehicle crashes." JAMA, June 4, 2003)
• Data from 2024-2025 shows a 95% misuse rate of car seats across events hosted by SKNCFL in Alachua County.
“A properly used and installed child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 71 percent, but too many families lack access to the education and safety devices every child deserves,” said Jordyn Zyngier, Safe Kids NCFL Coordinator and UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator. “Buckling up every ride every time in the correct safety seat is the most effective way to protect a child.”
“Car seat misuse is a widespread issue that affects all communities,” said Kevin Mangan, Public Information Officer for the High Springs Fire Department and CPST. “We encourage parents and caregivers to take advantage of our free car seat inspections and receive personalized guidance from our certified safety experts.
“With over 3.6 million children born in the U.S. each year (CDC), State Farm® is committed to helping kids stay safe from Car Seat to Driver’s Seat™,” said Jose Soto. “We look forward to working with Safe Kids North Central Florida and providing more parents with tools to keep their children safe on the road.”
Since its launch in September 2023, the program has reached nearly 26,000 families through signature events, inspecting over 5,200 car seats, and distributing close to 3,000 new seats to those in need.
Time and Place
Date: August 5, 2025
Time: Car Seat Checks – 5pm-8pm. NNO event – 6pm-9pm.
High Springs Civic Center:
19107 NW 240th St.
High Springs, FL 32643