Are your car seats properly installed?
Columbia County Fire Rescue can check to make sure the car seats in vehicles are properly installed.
Lt. Terry Wright, child passenger safety tech instructor for Columbia County Fire Rescue, said the car seat safety program was started three or four years ago after he became a tech and presented the idea to the fire department.
“The chief got on board, as well as the commissioners, and we created the car seat program,” Wright said. “We inspect and teach parents how to install car seats seven days a week, 365 days a year, and as far as I know, we’re the only entity that does it in the CSRA.”
When someone brings in a car seat, Wright said they check to see if it’s installed incorrectly and being used incorrectly. They will point out the issues to the parents and educate them on how to correctly use the car seat. This includes teaching about what not to have in a vehicle, including objects that can become flying projectiles, mirrors and mats for cars eats.
“Before they leave here, we make sure that they can install it,” Wright said. “That’s the goal. We don’t just install it; we teach you how to install it so that way we know the child will be safe.”
The most common mistake Wright has seen is the use of harness that goes over the child not being correct or the car seat not being secured to the vehicle correctly, whether it’s with the lower anchors or the seat belt.
“It’s usually never installed correct,” Wright said of the car seats. “Out of all the seats I’ve helped install, I’ve probably seen less than 10 correct.”
They also talk about proper clothing for kids to wear while in a car seat.
“We tell parents to just layer the jacket, drape it over the child because it provides a cushion between the seatbelt and the child,” Wright said of kids wearing heavy jackets while in a car seat.
Besides inspecting the car seat, Wright said they can also provide car seats to parents if needed.
“If a parent shows up and they don’t have a car seat or they have a car seat that’s either deemed unsafe whether because it’s expired or missing something, we do provide a car seat to them free of charge,” Wright said.
The life expectancy of a car seat is usually six to 10 years, but it depends on the seat and manufacturer, Wright said. The information can be found on the manufactures label. He added that if a car seat has been in a vehicle involved in a severe accident it is deemed unsafe and should be replaced.
Wright is one of several certified car seat techs working in Columbia County. To become a certified tech, the person must take a week-long course, but to become an instructor like him, he had to take a longer course.
“I’m one of two instructors in the CSRA,” Wright said.
Wright added they check a few hundred car seats a year. A few years ago, they held an event at a local Wal-Mart and plan to hold a big car seat event later this year.
As for the importance of making sure a car seat is properly installed, Wright said it’s all about making sure children are safe in cars.
For those who would like to have their car seat checked, Wright said it is preferred if they make an appointment to ensure someone is at the station, but they do take walk-ins. To make an appointment can call 706-855-7322 or email twright@columbiacountyga.gov.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
