Think your child is safely buckled?
Think again...

Did you know?

  • Almost 85% of children are not properly secured in child safety seats.

  • You can receive affordable training and equipment to make sure that your child stays safe on the road.

Don't Let This Happen to You:
Child Falls Out of Vehicle While in Car Seat

January 14th, 2019 3:49 PM CST by Sean Morawczynski
(MANKATO, Minn) - A dashcam video captured by a driver was posted to Facebook Monday shows a child falling out of a vehicle near Hy-Vee on Riverfront Drive in Mankato.

Mankato Public Safety says the child suffered no apparent injuries and was not taken to the hospital after paramedics examined the child.

The mother of the child was driving when her daughter fell out of the car.

Public Safety says the child was properly fastened inside the seat but the seat was not adequately attached to the car.

Authorities are requesting charges of child endangerment and child restraint system not fastened.

Tips For Ensuring Your Car Seat Is Installed Correctly

Given recent events in the news, here are some simple steps that can be taken to ensure your children are safe when you travel. Scroll down for more information.
  1. Make sure you have read your owner’s manual and your car set manual to make sure the seat you have chosen is compatible with your vehicle. One of the most common problems is seats that don't fit snugly in the vehicle. When properly installed and fitting correct in your vehicle, the car seat should not be able to move back and forth or side to side more than one inch in any direction. 

  2. A common error that is made is that the harness is too loose or are twisted, chest clips that ride too low. Chest clips should be at the level of a child's armpit, across the child’s hard sternum.

  3. Make sure that you have your child in the proper fitting seat. Your baby should ride rear-facing in the back seat until he or she exceeds the seat's height and weight limits for the rear position.

  4. If your seat is shared between vehicles, fasten the seat in each time you place it in the vehicle. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that each child is safely secured it the proper fitting seat and properly installed in the vehicle.  

If you are in need of having your seat checked out to make sure it is properly fitting for the child and is secured correctly in your car, contact a Car Seat Technician in your area. This is a NO-COST program. To find a Tech in your area, go to BuckleUpKids.org, www.nhsta.dot.gov, safekids.org. You can also find our more information by calling Sheila Denton @ 507-236-8152. There are also programs in every county that issue car seats to those in need.  
We offer a brief, but powerful, training to interested parents and caregivers, providing:
Instruction for proper installation of car seats.
How to match the best seats with their child.
Information on the laws governing child passenger seat use in Minnesota.
Free child safety seats to qualifying families.

Parent/Caregiver Education:

Programs are available to parents and caregivers to assist them with:

  • Proper Car Seat Use
  • Proper Seat Selection
  • Adhering to Traffic Safety Laws
  • Resources

We Can Provide:

  • One on One Education
  • Group Education
  • Community Events

Car Seat Distribution:

The South Cental MN EMS System's Child Passenger Safety Resource Center is dedicated to making sure ALL children are safe in any motor vehicle. Working with our local partners in government and business, we offer car seat checkup events, education (both group and one-on-one), and distribute car seats within the community.


Car seat inspections are offered FREE of charge!

Child And Restraints Systems Training:

This training satisfies the requirement of the 2005 Minnesota Law (MN 245A.18) that requires programs licensed under DHS Rule 3, including child care and foster care providers,  in Minnesota to complete a three hour child passenger safety training before they begin transporting children under the age of nine.


This training is for, but not limited to:

  • Child Care Providers
  • Foster Care Providers
  • Head Start Staff
  • Group Home Staff
  • Child Welfare/Social Services Staff

Specialized Trainings:

Everyday in Minnesota, children sustain serious injuries or death due to improper child safety restraint systems.


Child passenger safety trainings provide technical information in the classroom as well as hands-on experience with a wide variety of child restraints and vehicles.


  • NHSTA Technical Training
  • NHSTA School Bus Curriculum
  • MN Practitioner Training & Recertification
  • NHSTA Tech Renewal Course

Technical Support:

Technical Support for Technicians and Practitioners

  • Recertification
  • Senior Checker Status
  • Tech Proxy
  • Instructor Candidacy

For more information about any of the information regarding Child Passenger Safety, please contact Sheila Denton using the information below. Alternatively, you may fill out the form at the bottom of the page as well.

Sheila Denton
SCMNEMS Child Passenger Safety &
 Outreach Coordinator
102 Industrial Drive,
Eagle Lake, MN 56024
507-236-8152
sheila.denton@scmnems.org

Zach Rinehart
SCMNEMS Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor
102 Industrial Drive,
Eagle Lake, MN 56024
507-383-4076
zach.rinehart@scmnems.org

Child Passenger Safety Information Form

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