Eielson firefighters install, inspect child safety seats

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Eielson fire fighters educated local military families on child seat safety with free installations and inspections at Fire Station 1 here April 28.

During the inspections, firefighters identified incorrectly installed, defective or broken child safety seats, and checked for anything that could harm a baby or prevent the seat from working properly in the event of an accident.

"We'll probably find something wrong with every vehicle or seat," said Don Christian, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Station 1 captain.

By using checklists and ensuring an infant or child is not only comfortable but safe, parents were able to leave the station knowing their child had been provided with safety measures tested for that specific seat.

"Only a properly attached seat can provide safety to the infant or child," said Christian. "The goal is for the child to leave here safer than when they arrived."

The reality of a potentially tragic result of an improperly installed, old or worn unit is grim, and there are many different aspects to consider when installing a seat, that if done wrong, could put a child at risk.

One common mistake found during inspections was safety seats not being secured tight enough to the vehicle chair, said Jeff Akin, 354th CES training officer. Knowing the capabilities of a car allows parents to use a child seat to the fullest capability. For example, in some cars, slowly releasing the seat belt will help to more effectively lock a child seat in place.

Parents were also instructed on the possible dangers toys or lose items could pose in a car. In the case of an accident, playthings could become projectiles and cause injury to people in the car.

Those who showed up for the car seat safety checks took the information well, said Akin. They were willing to ask questions and open to answers and advice given by firefighters.

"I never knew there was so much to making sure the child is safe in the chair," said Senior Airman Jamael Skeete, 354th CES firefighter. "I thought you just put the child in a seat and that's it."

354th CES firefighters are trained in a four-day session provided by the National Safe Kids Organization, and are state certified to assist with safe placement and inspections of existing infant and toddler seating components.

Inspections and installation assistance are offered year-round to anyone who needs it. For more information, call Akin at 377-4156.