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Child car seats save lives, but to work they must be the right seat, and be properly installed in a vehicle.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children 14 and under in this country. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, correctly used child safety seats decrease the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Injury risks for children using belt-positioning booster seats are reduced by 59%.

But typically, more than 70% of child safety seats are improperly installed. That's a big reason why Lapeer County Sheriff's deputies Karl Sapp and Matt Snay recently became two of four certified child safety seat technicians in Lapeer County.

The two volunteer their own time to teach parents how to properly buckle up.

"We had a lot of requests from parents," Snay said. "There were only two in the county. A lot of people really don't know how to put install them."

Sapp saw the need in his everyday patrol duties.

"I'd see it all the time," he said. "I'd tell people, I'm not certified, but that's not right."

Common mistakes the deputies saw are not securing the seat tight enough; sometimes parents forgot to fasten their child's seat to a safety belt at all. Some parents take their baby out of a rear facing child safety seat too early.

"I stopped a newspaper delivery man who had three kids sitting on the back seat on top of newspapers," said Sapp. "There was a 10 month old sitting in the front seat in a front facing car seat. What would happen to that baby if the air bag went off?"

Even the most careful parents make mistakes. Lapeer mom Krystal Johns requested that Sapp and Snay check her car seat on Wednesday.

"I did have a few issues; the seat belt was too loose," Johns said. "The seat belt was twisted and the straps were in the wrong position."

John's husband usually switches their son Logan's car seat between their two vehicles.

"Now I can do it and feel confident that I'm keeping our son as safe as possible," she said.

Car seats may fit properly in one vehicle, but not another, Undersheriff Bob Rapson said.

"They're also rated for safety and ease of installing," Rapson said. "Some stores will let you bring them out in the parking lot and try them out until you find the right one."

Parents should also avoid used car seats if possible.

"The rule is six years and out," Snay said.

Sapp and Snay are volunteering to teach parents proper installation techniques and check car seats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Goodland Township Fire Hall. Phone deputy Deaneen North at 245-1365 to reserve a time at that event or to find out when the two are available.

Lapeer Pregnancy Center Director Paulette Hazen and Lapeer County Safe Kids Coordinator Chris Venema are also certified technicians.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com