KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arizona Donates Car Seats To Sonora

In the Mexican state of Sonora, it is estimated that only 13 percent of babies and small children use car seats. In Arizona, it is is closer to 90 percent. The two states are now partnering to buckle up more Sonora kids. In Arizona, small children and babies are legally required to be in car seats. It is the same in Sonora but much less common.

Will Humble thinks money is the reason so few parents use car seats in the Mexican state. The Arizona Department of Health Services director said the restraints are more expensive south of the border. So, Humble is asking Arizona parents to donate their gently used car seats to Sonora. He said a few hundred have been collected so far but is hoping for thousands in the future.

"After this, we hope to have enough flow of the used car seats from Arizona to be able to supply the secretary of health with enough car seats," Humble said, "so that as babies leave the hospital in Hermosillo, that they leave with a car seat, even if they can’t afford it."

There are collection points at several Rural Metro Ambulance locations across the Valley. Humble stressed that parents should not worry about the condition of the seats, as all will be checked before being given to Sonoran parents. See a full list of drop-off locations here.

Stina Sieg was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2013 to 2018.