The Huntington Beach Police Department is hosting a free car seat safety event on Friday, March 20, giving parents and caregivers a chance to have their child's car seat inspected and properly installed by certified technicians.

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the HBPD parking lot at 2000 Main Street. No appointment is needed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats save approximately 325 children under age 5 every year — but only when installed and used correctly. Misuse is common, and even small errors in installation can significantly reduce protection in a crash.

HBPD technicians will be on-site to walk parents through proper installation and show them how to maintain their child's seat as they grow. A limited number of free car seats will also be available for families in need.

Questions can be directed to Sgt. DeJong at gdejong@hbpd.org.

The program is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.