IMMI announced a summer program designed to assist school districts with replacing SafeGuard STAR restraints as well as any other brands of vests or child restraints manufactured in 2004 and earlier.

The SafeGuard Summer Exchange runs from June 24 through Sept. 30 and covers all child restraints that have surpassed their service life of six years, according to industry standards. A company spokesperson said IMMI is making the discount available because summer is an excellent time to inspect and replace equipment on the school bus.

To participate in the SafeGuard Summer Exchange program, school districts must cut the manufacturing label from the retired product per instructions from IMMI. The school district must then complete a participation form and ship it along with the label to IMMI headquarters by Sept. 30.

IMMI will then e-mail the district a $15 coupon to be used towards purchasing a new SafeGuard STAR restraint from a distributor of the district’s choice.

Charlie Vits, the market development manager at IMMI/SafeGuard, first announced the program last week to an Internet group of certified passenger safety technicians managed by Safe Ride News.