Child safety seats, including booster seats, offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash.

Louisiana State Police troopers stress this fact every chance they get, adding unintentional injuries, specifically motor vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of death for children.

Child passengers are safest in the rear seat of the vehicle and should remain in the rear seat until 12 years old or later.

However, safety leaders say parents and caregivers often skip the booster seat step, which can lead to severe injuries or death in a motor vehicle crash.

“When properly installed and used, child seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for children younger than 1 and by 54 percent for children between 1 and 4 years old,” a release from State Police said this week. “With an estimated misuse rate of three out of four seats, parents and caregivers are urged to take advantage of checkup events to have child restraints in their vehicle checked free of charge.”

One area event is planned in two weeks that local residents should consider attending.

The Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force will conduct a Free Summer Booster Seat Giveaway Event from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 in the Clearview Mall on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie.

Free booster seats will be given to children meeting the following height and weight criteria:

· Child must be 40-100 pounds and 40-57 inches tall.

· Child must be less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

· Child must be at least 4 years old.

· Child must be present.