Bluffton Township Fire District to host free car seat safety inspection event

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - The Bluffton Township Fire District will host a free car seat safety check event next week to help parents and caregivers protect young passengers.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Station 38, located at 260 Raider Drive. The checks are part of National Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 20-26.

Certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car seats and booster seats to ensure proper fit based on a child’s age, weight and height, as well as proper vehicle installation. Technicians will also educate families on how and when to safely transition children from rear-facing seats to forward-facing seats, booster seats and standard seat belts.

Fire officials emphasized the critical need for proper installation, pointing to 2025 national data from AAA and the National Safety Council showing that more than 83% of forward-facing car seats and nearly 70% of rear-facing car seats were used incorrectly.

“Car crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death for children,” said Stephen Combs, public information officer for the department. “This event gives families a chance to have their car seats checked by trained technicians and get answers to their questions.”

Each inspection takes about 30 minutes. Appointments are strongly encouraged because of limited capacity, and families are asked to bring both the child and the vehicle to allow technicians to complete a thorough check.

Event Details

• Event: Bluffton Township Fire District Car Seat Safety Check
• Date: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
• Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (30-minute appointments)
• Location: Station 38, 260 Raider Drive, Bluffton, S.C.
• Registration: Online at https://blufftonfd.com/2026-car-seat-check/
• Contact: Stephen Combs, public information officer, at 843-949-4255 or pio@BlufftonFD.com