DURHAM -- While a car seat protects your child, it doesn't do any good if it's not installed properly. To help remedy the problem, September 21-27 has been named National Child Passenger Safety week.

Last year across the state, 25 children under the age of eight were killed in vehicle accidents, another 97 injured. Most of those kids were not restrained. That hits close to home for officers who have to respond to these calls.

“One of the things that really brought me to support this, and believe in it, and participate in child passenger safety was watching an 18-month old die in front of me out on Horton Road in a crash where there was actually a child safety seat in the car, but the child wasn't in the seat,” Cpl. Stan McHenry, of the Durham Police Department, said.

As part of the safety week, Safe Kids Durham County offered free safety seat checks. Clinics are being held throughout the state this week.

For Jennifer Newlin, a first time expectant mother, it's a chance to make sure her car seat is tightly secured.

“Definitely, more peace of mind to come out here and check out the car seat and make sure it's done correctly,” Newlin said.

Here are some guidelines to follow: infants should in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats. When they outgrow that, they should move to a forward-facing car-seat. After that, at around 4-years old, children can move to booster seats.

“It's part of being a good parent; it's part of doing the right thing. You've got to keep the little guy safe,” said Michiel Johnson, the father of a 2-year-old boy.

In the last 30 years, reports show that more than 8,000 children's lives have been saved by the proper use of safety seats.

You can contact Safe Kids North Carolina at 1 (888) 347-3737 if you would like information about child passenger safety clinics available across the state.