Question for Ed (Redchief) - or anyone really

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: When I was PG with Wil, we had our carseat checked at a local firestation. DH's boss' wife is due this weekend and informed me that she has called every police and firestation in our city and was told that they don't test carseats anymore! I am shocked by this! Could just be our city, but she said it was probably because someone got in a crash and sued the station. So I guess my DH is going to go over and help install his boss' carseat, but does anyone find that as ridiculous as I do? I undersand the legal concern, but I think it's a really important service. Maybe Ed can give me a better explanation...thanks.

luvbug00 replied: WOW I dont know why they would stop.. I never had mya's checked so I don't know if they do them here or not.

CantWait replied: That is kind of shocking. I know I'm in a different country, but our firestations still do carseat checks.

5littleladies replied: I don't know if our local one does. We have regular carseat clinics at the local car dealers though.

holley79 replied: the Florida Highway Patrol, our insurance company and our Dept still do carseat checks. That is odd though. Call the state highway patrol for your state and see if they can point you in the right direction. I know when I was getting Annika's set up in both veh's FHP did it.

Momof3inMe replied: I know the town over from us does it like everyother weekend. I would trying calling towns or cities near by.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Bump!

redchief replied: Because Safekids.org is greedy. (Just an opinion)

They now require that each inspection technician must undergo a grueling 40 hour technician training class prior to conducting child safety seat inspections. I had an eight hour certification and have allowed it to lapse because I simply don't have a week to dedicate to the training.

From all of those I've spoken to who have sacrificed a week for the training, it could be done in two days. So, as Safekids.org is the NPO that wrote the standard on carseat safety, you can thank them when no one will be able to answer the few simple questions you have about your children's seats. Sorry guys, but we're not doing it here either.

~~*Missi*~~ replied: i know here in NY Burlington and Babies Rus has at least ONE certified employee trained to do this... My husband had to go thru the training when he ran the baby depot in ohio and then recert when we moved back to NY...
Also the only ones that do it other that those two stores, is the state troopers... We have huge weekly check points in a different location that they will check the seat and properly install if needed... if your seat is out of date or improper for your child they replace it on the spot...

Try babiesRus or Burlington if you have one. I know Burlington isn't a company mandate that they have to go thru the training but when chris was manager he MADE himself get into it with the companies help and made one other person come with..... burlington is no longer owned by the same family so things may have changed since he left.... WHO KNOWS but try them both and the State Police in your area..

holley79 replied:
Isn't it a shame Ed. I was just talking to one of the deputies about the child seats and he was just telling me how they are having to take 40 hour courses now, which is a waste of time.

It seems that all our certificates have gotten to be just so drawn out. They wonder why we all let ours lapse.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
40 hours!!! What a shame.

Thanks for explaining Ed!

coasterqueen replied: Oh wow, I hope that doesn't end up the case in our city. I ONLY like going to the state police department or city license dept. to get ours checked. I've tried those other BRU and misc. seat belt checks and they are worthless, at least around here. IF they stop doing them where will I go?

Seems like it could harm more than not.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Okay...I just talked to Michal and he gave me a phone #, I'll PM you with it.

ashtonsmama replied:

And here there is a place for parents that does it, like a mommy group thing, they have a carseat check day and the stations still do them...

mom21kid2dogs replied: No disprespect to Ed or any other firefighter but I would never let anyone BUT a certified tech inspect my seat. My brother is a firefighter/paramedic who also had the 8 hour training in fire school and he asks me for info regarding car seat stuff because he knows I got addicted to a car seat tech board and have more info on current issues than he does. For this reason, I never refered anyone in my area to the fire station ot OSHP. I send them to the Health Department because they have a certified tech on staff.

IMO, it's like getting an ankle break and having either a GP or a bone Doc set it. I'm likely going with the bone doc~not because he's "better" but because it's his specialty. For me, the training DOES make the difference.

redchief replied:
Cheryl, it takes a lot to offend me and you're certainly entitled to your opinion, so I am not in the least offended. My post wasn't meant to belittle the need for educated car seat techs. Anyone who inspects car seats should be trained and certified. My only gripe is with the 40 hour requirement. According to the few firefighters I spoke with regarding the need for such a long course, the answer is always that we get more usable information in our 16 and 20 hour weekend courses than Safekids gives in the 40 hour car seat course. I regret that I was unable to meet the new standard, but since my certification lapsed I wouldn't consider doing a car seat inspection and neither would my colleagues.

The question asked why fire departments aren't doing the inspections anymore. Some larger career fire departments are still able to send and compensate employees to the classes so that they are able to continue their programs. I, as a volunteer, am unable to give 40 hours to such a course, and this is a common problem in our field.