Monthly car seat checkups offered at Macon-Bibb County Health Department

The Macon-Bibb County Health Department is now offering free monthly car seat checkups.

While most people think they are using their car seats correctly, actual inspections reveal that 80 to 90 percent of car seats are installed or used incorrectly, according to a Monday news release from the health department.

When properly worn and installed, safety belts and car seats prevent ejection, distribute forces to the strongest parts of the body, and protect the head, neck and spinal cord, according to the release.

More than 500 deaths and 80,000 injuries could be prevented each year if child safety seats were properly used, according to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To find out if your child is riding safely, stop by the health department at 171 Emery Highway between 10 a.m, and 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

For more information about the car seat program, call the health department's SafeKids coordinator, Stephanie Hyman, at 749-0144.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Monthly car seat checkups offered at Macon-Bibb County Health Department ."