Lieutenant Matthew Clark, IAFF3138 President.
Child Car Seat Inspections
Motor
vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children in the United
States. Many injuries and deaths can be prevented by properly using car
seats. With four out of five seats misused, certified technicians
provide a valuable service to parents and caregivers concerned with safe
transport for their most precious cargo.
A group of nine Rockledge
Firefighters attended a Child Passenger Safety
Technician Certification Course. This is an intense forty-hour program
providing classroom lecture with hands on activities. The course
prepares the student for certification as a Child Passenger Safety
Technician. The certification allows for the inspecting of child car
seats and educating parents and caregivers on the proper selection of
child car seats and the installation of those seats in passenger
vehicles.
Child
Passenger Safety Technicians put their knowledge to work through a
variety of activities, including car seat checks where parents and
caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance with the proper use
of child restraint systems and safety belts.
The
program is a partnership among the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, the National Child Passenger Safety Board and Safe Kids
Worldwide.
Our
committed technicians will work directly with parents and caregivers to
provide instruction on the proper sizing and installation of Child
Protection Seats. The testing and skills verification required by the
certification program ensure that our technicians know and transmit the
most up-to-date technical information.
Car
seat inspections/installations are available 7 days a week by
appointment between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Please call to schedule your appointment
in advance to ensure the availability of the technician. You may call
Lori Matson at 690-3968 for an appointment, or contact any of our fire stations.
You
should plan for 45 minutes for the inspection and installation to take
place as the technician will educate you on the specifics to your
vehicle and seat and instruct you on installation of the seat. You will
then install the seat under the direction of the technician who will
then inspect the installation.
Car seats are kept in stock and are available to those who need them (inventory is not guaranteed). A minimum $20.00 donation is appreciated.
Car seats are kept in stock and are available to those who need them (inventory is not guaranteed). A minimum $20.00 donation is appreciated.
