If youB次元官网网址檝e ever tried to install a car seat, you know itB次元官网网址檚 not always as simple as it seems. If you find yourself in need of some assistance, help is available.
Since 2011 View Royal Fire Rescue has been coming to the aid of residents through BCAAB次元官网网址檚 Child Passenger Educator program and has done so more than 1,000 times, averaging nearly 200 installs a year.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 install car seats, we teach you to install the car seat B次元官网网址� We go over the installation of the seat and the child,B次元官网网址� said Assistant Chief Rob Marshall. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 been a great success B次元官网网址� We were doing it anyways, so it only made sense (to join the program).B次元官网网址�
With more than a dozen different ways to put in the same seat and new seats hitting the market every month, itB次元官网网址檚 not always an easy process.
B次元官网网址淲ith all of the changing laws and requirements, itB次元官网网址檚 confusing,B次元官网网址� Marshall said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing the amount of variables that come into it.B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why the department asks that participants phone ahead to book an appointment before coming in with a seat and that you bring manuals for both the seat and your vehicle.
This allows a check of BCAAB次元官网网址檚 car seat recall list. While these often affect minor parts and not the full seat, the department has seen many recalls parents werenB次元官网网址檛 aware of. Marshall noted that if youB次元官网网址檙e going to fill in one registration card, do so for your car seat B次元官网网址� companies are then legally bound to notify you of any recalls.
While a number of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 day staff are trained as program educators, booking an appointment also ensures someone is available when you arrive. But first, B次元官网网址渢ry installing it yourself B次元官网网址� it just makes it a little quicker,B次元官网网址� Marshall said.
From parents arriving with seats falling over B次元官网网址� child and all B次元官网网址� to panicking dads stopping en route to pick up mom and baby at the hospital, to seats facing in the wrong direction, the department has seen just about everything.
But one of the most common problems they see is seats that are too big, that residents have tried to squeeze into their vehicles. Marshall noted three-in-one seats are the worst offenders, as they are huge and physically wonB次元官网网址檛 fit in some smaller vehicles. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing worse than trying to jury-rig it in,B次元官网网址� he said, recommending soon-to-be parents read the size requirements carefully before purchasing.
After taking the programB次元官网网址檚 training component, the department took a look at its membersB次元官网网址� vehicles to see if their own car seats were installed properly. None were, although a number of faults were very minor ones. B次元官网网址淭hat was a good indication for us,B次元官网网址� Marshall said. B次元官网网址淚t can be very confusing B次元官网网址� (and) you get a varying range of education out there.B次元官网网址�
The department has seen firsthand the importance of proper installation. In 2011, crews were called to a rollover crash on the Six Mile Road off ramp near the Trans-Canada Highway. Strapped safely in the car seat was a baby suspended upside down in the car.
B次元官网网址淭he little guy was just in there with his soother,B次元官网网址� Marshall said, recalling the surreal moment.
For anyone transporting a baby, Marshall said, B次元官网网址渇or piece of mind, send them by B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檒l go over it with grandma and grandpa as well.B次元官网网址� People driving vehicles they donB次元官网网址檛 normally drive are welcome to drop in for a tune-up lesson.
