FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Certified child passenger safety technicians from the Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department are scheduled to inspect car seats from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 2 in Williams Elementary School’s east parking lot.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the U.S., but many of these deaths can be prevented.
Darrin Shiplett, Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department fire inspector, said the department has been hosting car seat inspections for 15 years and last year technicians inspected 75 seats.
In addition to having the car seats checked, motorists will have the opportunity to learn how to install them correctly, Shiplett’s favorite aspect of the event.
“I have been installing car seats for 10 years,” he said. “I like to help out families with installing and teach them the proper way to install them.”
Shiplett said car seats can be tricky because “not all car seats and vehicles are created the same” and parents should not feel embarrassed to ask for help.
“Car seats are constantly changing and we have to attend annual training to keep up with the new car seat changes,” he said.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, as children grow, how they sit in a car will change and not all car seats fit in all vehicles.
For a complete inspection, Shiplett said motorists need to bring the car seat and owner’s manuals for the child safety seat and vehicle to the inspection.
Firefighters performing the inspections are trained and certified through the National Child Safety Passenger Safety Certification Course.
In case of inclement weather, the inspections will take place at Fire Station #3 in Bldg. 2375.
For motorists not able to attend the event, Shiplett said they can stop by Fire Station #1 or Station #3 and ask for someone to assist them in installing their car seats.
For more information, call 573.596.0886.
To view Missouri’s child safety seat laws, visit the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website.
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