NATCHEZ — Safe Kids Mississippi Executive Director Michael Hughes is working with local law enforcement to train officers and deputies to be certified child passenger safety technicians. And newly certified technicians will take their new knowledge to the community from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Safe Kids Mississippi will sponsor a voluntary child safety checkpoint where residents can get their safety seats checked and adjusted free of charge.

Hughes said this is a very important service for the safety of Mississippi children.

“In Mississippi we see a misuse rate of child restraints of over 90 percent,” Hughes said.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among children, Hughes said. But children can also suffer life-long injuries if they are not properly restrained.

“The fatalities really represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to car accidents,” he said.