This is a scene depicting 54 old car seats from a car seat clinic my wife organized. I titled this "Freedom!!!" because these have been in our garage for some time and now I am free of these plastic shells. Today is citywide clean-up so that is why they are sitting on the curb.
But in all seriousness, this is the second year my wife has done this. She is a certified car seat tech and has a passion for child safety. This scene of 54 old car seats means there are 54 more children that are riding in safe car seats now. It is a lot of work for her (and for me for that matter), but it is all worth it.
Freedom…Yes…but safe kids…even better.
[I am hoping this makes up for the burnt wooden spoon picture :)]
-edh-
LATE ADDITION: When I posted this earlier today I failed to mention and give some credit to my sister who came down from the cities to help with one of these clinics. Julie is also a car seat tech. Connie and I were both very grateful she could come. Plus we got to spend some quality time togther (which includes time with my cute little niece).
The Heart of a Pastor 
I’m glad to hear that there is an organized effort to promote safe seats. Even though it is the law that we must use these, it is hard to get people to know the correct ways to use them, and, they are expensive.
I taught Childbirth Education quite a few years ago. I felt that the lesson on using the car seat was much more important than the parts about giving birth, although that is what the parents-to-be focused on, of course.
This is wonderful to see and I am glad I was able to help out at one of Connie’s events (in Jackson). It is frustrating that car seats need to be so difficult to install that you need to take a 32 hour course to learn how. This should be a prerequisite for parents along with the childbirth class. It is nice to know there is a law for children in child restraints, however there isn’t a law for children in booster seats and this is just as important. I see many children who are between 4 & 8 riding in vehicles without boosters. I am glad to be available to help.
Your sis.
Julie – Thank you for coming down to help.
Car seat safety is indeed important and should be stressed more. I am always amazed at how many people don’t use car seats correctly or even use them at all. I am so very thankful for people like Connie and Julie who devote so much time to educating people about child safety.
I know of a group that is looking for a new project to take on. This looks like something that they could really get into andwould also benefit many who cannot afford a quality car seat for their child. Great idea!
This is a video about a little girl whose life was shattered in a car accident because the car model she was riding in had weak front seats and her carseat was strapped in behind one of the front seats.
I know it’s not common to strap a child’s carseat in the rear center, but this shows how important it is to do just that if your car has weak rear seats. Please pass this video around to anyone who has children ride with them. Maybe we can prevent something like this from happening to another family.
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/media-center/AlyssasStory-final2.html
TBI — thank you for sharing this video
No problem! Also, I should add that you can find out if your car has this seat problem by checking to see if the seat belts are strapped to the reinforcement column or roof, or if they come directly from the seat. The problem is with the All Belts to Seat (ABTS) seats, so if you have one of those vehicles never seat a child anywhere but in the center of the rear seat.