Participants in a regional Child Passenger Safety Certification Course hosted by Peters Township Fire Department pose after their final testing.
PETERS TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT
GAINS THREE ADDITIONAL CAR SEAT
TECHNICIANS
Every day, thousands of motor vehicle
accidents occur in the United States. In
2016, these accidents resulted in 128,000
injuries and 723 deaths in children under
12 years of age. We can do better.
Nationally, the misuse of car seats
varies anywhere from 74 to a staggering
90 percent. These statistics are the results
of anything from incorrect installation,
improper harnessing of the child, or the
wrong selection of seat type or direction.
The Peters Township Fire Department
(PTFD) aims to reduce these risks by
educating parents through our car seat
safety program.
The Peters Township Fire Department
has been participating as a car seat fitting
station for many years, and is one of the
busiest in the entire state, often checking
over 500 seats annually. PTFD recently
had the opportunity to not only certify 3
more technicians, but to host a regional
certification program in Peters Township.
The Department’s now 7 technicians
focus on educating the caregivers in five
key areas:
1. Selection: Selecting an
appropriate seat based on the
child’s age, height, weight, and
developmental level
2. Direction: Correct direction of the
seat based on the above criteria
3. Location: placing the seat and
child in the appropriate riding
position in the vehicle
4. Installation: installing the car seat
or booster seat correctly
5. Harnessing: securing the child in
their seat correctly
As the technicians review the above
core areas, they also ensure the seat has
not been recalled or expired, and is in
the appropriate condition for use. The
safety of your children is only one phone
call away. Don’t wait – contact the Peters
Township Fire
Department for
more information
or to schedule an
appointment for
this free service.
The Peters
Township Fire
Department is
a combination
department,
staffed by both volunteer and career
firefighters 24/7/365. The department
provides fire, rescue, and emergency
medical response and answers
approximately 1,400 emergency calls
annually. In addition, PTFD provides
fire prevention services through fire
and life safety education, commercial
and residential fire inspections,
and community outreach. PTFD is
always looking to add firefighters
to our team. If you are interested in
volunteering with the Peters Township
Fire Department, please contact
Lieutenant Cramer at 724.941.4176 or
[email protected].
PA Law:
• All children from birth to 4 must be secured in an approved
car seat.
• Children younger than 2 must be in a rear-facing car seat until
they outgrow the maximum height and weight of the seat.
• Children over 4 but under 8 years old must be secured in an
appropriate booster seat.
14
PETERS TOWNSHIP
Peters Township Firefighter/EMT Adam Kauer prepares a seat for installation.