Child Safety

Beginning Monday, the State of Maryland will begin enforcing new requirements concerning child passenger safety. Any child younger than 8 years old will be required to be secured in a federally approved child safety seat, unless the child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller, or weighs more than 65 pounds, according to a prepared release from the State Highway Administration. The new law also states that a person may not transport a child younger than 16 years old unless the child is secured in a safety seat or seat belt.

This is Child Passenger Safety Week By MARLO BARNHART marlob@herald-mail.com Area police and health officials will emphasize the use of child safety seats during Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 10-16. Proper installation and use of child safety seats will be demonstrated by Washington County Sheriff's deputies on Monday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. at Boonsboro Elementary School at 5 Campus Ave. Deputies will also be stationed at Sharpsburg Elementary School at 17525 Shepherdstown Pike on Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 to 9 a.m. to show parents how to use the seats to prevent injuries to their children in an accident.

Pennsylvania State Police reported 13 crashes in Franklin County, Pa., over the holiday weekend. Of the 13 crashes from Friday through Monday on roads patrolled by the state police, three were related to alcohol, police said in a news release. Eleven people were injured, police said. The Chambersburg barrack made 23 arrests for driving under the influence, and issued 178 speeding citations, three child safety seat citations and 15 seat belt citations. The Chambersburg barrack is part of state police's Troop H, which also includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry and York counties.

Proud Moms and Dads often are eager to share class portraits or photos from a soccer game or dance recital. But consider these incidents recently reported in the news: An American family found that a holiday photo they had posted ended up being used as a front window advertisement for a grocery store in the Czech Republic. And a teenage girl discovered that her photo was part of an advertisement for Virgin Mobile halfway around the world. Then, there are pedophiles who download images and store them.

Dave Carr uses a pinwheel to simulate the effect of hallucinogens Tuesday at Hancock Elementary School, where he was staging an "Officer Phil" child safety program on chemical awareness for fourth-graders.

Child seat safety check to be held HANCOCK - The Washington County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with K.I.S.S. and State Farm Insurance, will conduct a child seat safety check on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hancock Community Center. Child passenger seat technicians will be available to inspect and properly install child safety seats.

Sitting on Santa's lap and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle might just make Christmas that much more special for some area boys and girls this holiday season. A $5 donation to the Community Rescue Service child safety-seat program will result in just such an opportunity Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Denny's Restaurant, 1630 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. A photograph, which will be in a holiday frame, can be taken with either Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus on the Harley of the donor's choice.

Community Rescue Service is having an open house at 110 Eastern Blvd. from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The open house will include child safety seat inspections, Hagerstown Police Department dogs, free fingerprinting for children and a MedSTAR helicopter. A new CRS ambulance will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police will be conducting free child safety seat checks from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The service will be offered at Summit Health Center, 757 Norland Ave. No appointments are necessary.

Children's Village received a gift of $2,000 from the Children and Youth Committee of the American Legion's Child Welfare Foundation, Department of Maryland, to support its child-safety education program for Washington County students.