When car seats are installed properly, they keep your children secure when the vehicle is moving, protecting them from an accident.
When they are not installed properly, the car seat could tip over and injure your child.
Car seats must be installed correctly to make sure that your children are not in any danger when you are driving.
To help reassure you that the car seat is installed in the car properly, is the fire department able to install car seats so that they are secure for your children?
This article will inform you about whether or not the fire department can install car seats and if you can turn to them for help when making sure that your car seat is secure.
Find out more below!
Can The Fire Department Install Car Seats For You?
The fire department used to be known for helping parents install car seats in their cars and making sure that they were secure in the event of a crash.
Having the fire department install the car seats was a great way of making sure that the seat was installed correctly and that children would be safe when their parents were driving.
As the fire department used to be well-known for helping parents with their car seats, why do we not hear of it so much anymore?
Most fire departments can still install car seats for parents, but there are rules that they need to adhere to.
What Is A CPS Technician?
A CPS technician is a child passenger safety technician.
They teach people how to safely install car seats to make sure that children are safe in the vehicle, and they also teach the right way to secure a child in a car seat to maximize their safety.
If you fail to secure your child correctly in the car seat, it is incredibly dangerous as they will not be protected.
To remain a CPS technician, people who are qualified must continue to educate themselves on child safety in a vehicle.
This means that they will not miss any of the latest safety equipment or car seats that are available for people to buy that will further enhance the safety of children in a car.
Do Firefighters Need To Be CPS-Certified To Install Car Seats?
Firefighters need to be CPS-certified to install car seats as this ensures that the car seat is secure and safe to use.
This means that if you go to the fire department to have a car seat installed and there is no CPS technician there, they will ask you to return when the CPS technician is back.
If there is no CPS technician at your local fire department, they will be able to direct you to the nearest one.
There are lots of CPS technicians who can help you safely install your car seat, so it isn’t too much of a hassle if your fire department doesn’t have one that can help.
Why Can Firefighters Be Reluctant To Install Car Seats?
Firefighters who are not CPS-certified are not meant to help parents install car seats as they are not trained, so it should only be CPS technicians who should be installing car seats.
Some firefighters will refuse to help parents install car seats, but why?
If a firefighter installs a car seat and something goes wrong when a child is sitting in it, the parents may end up suing the firefighter.
This could destroy both their personal life and their professional career, so there are lots of firefighters who do not want to take the risk.
This is the common reason why firefighters who are not CPS-certified refuse to install car seats as they are not trained the same way as firefighters who are.
The liability for installing a car seat is one of the reasons why firefighters refuse to install car seats as a child becoming injured or even killed from a poor installation can be extremely traumatic.
Although firefighters who are CPS-certified can help install car seats, some refuse to install car seats because of this risk.
Some CPS technicians will help you install a car seat, but others will not. It can be too risky for the fire department if something goes wrong.
Correctly Installing A Car Seat
Lots of people wrongly install car seats and this can have a serious effect on your children’s safety.
It is important to make sure that you install the car seats correctly to protect your children in the event of an accident.
Choose The Safest Place For The Car Seat
To safely install a car seat, you need to first make sure that you choose the right place for the car seat.
The safest place in the car to install a car seat is in the back seat as an airbag can cause further injuries to a child in the event of a crash.
The back seat is also the safest place for a car seat as it protects your children from frontal crashes.
In the back of the car, the center seating position is the safest place to install your car seat.
If you have one child, you should install the car seat in the center seating position to keep them as safe as possible in the vehicle.
If you have 2 car seats, install them in the back passenger seats. Your car manual will tell you where you can install car seats in your car.
Although the center seating position is the safest for a car seat, if the car seat does not seem secure, you will need to move it to one of the side seats.
Having a loose car seat in the center seating position is not safe, so you will need to move it to make sure that it is a tighter fit and is more stable.
LATCH
Reading the manuals for both your car and your car seat is important for making sure that you properly install the car seat.
Reading the manual for the car will inform you if you have LATCH in the car, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
You may be able to install the car seat in the center position by using LATCH from each side of the back seats.
When installing the car seat so that it is facing the front of the car, use the top anchors, and if the car seat is facing the back of the car, use the bottom anchors.
This will help to keep your car seat stable and in the correct position.
Rear-Facing Car Seats
Having your child in a rear-facing car seat can help to keep them safe, and it used to be recommended that you move them out of this car seat when they reach the age of 2.
However, you shouldn’t go by age, you should go by weight and height. If your child weighs more than the rear-facing car seat limit suggests before they are 2 years old, it is time to move them.
Keeping your child in a car seat where they exceed the weight and height limit is dangerous as they will be uncomfortable and it could cause the car seat to become unstable.
You will need to find a more suitable car seat to make sure that they are comfortable and secure.
Keeping Your Child Safe In Their Car Seats
It is always important to make sure that your child is safe in the car, so having an appropriate car seat is vital for protecting them in the event of an accident.
There are several things that you can do to maximize your child’s safety when they are in their car seat.
Check That The Car Seat Is In Good Condition
This is especially important if you are using a second-hand car seat or one that has been passed down to you from a family member or friend with your child.
Lots of car seats are made from plastic, and plastic can weaken over time. Having a weak car seat will not be as effective as having a strong and sturdy car seat.
This means that you need to make sure that the car seat is still in good condition to use and that it isn’t dangerous to use.
Check the plastic for any cracks or weaknesses to make sure that your child will be safe when using it.
If you think that the car seat is unsuitable, it is best to find one that you feel more comfortable using.
Don’t Rush To Get Rid Of Booster Seats
Commonly, children are moved out of booster seats too quickly, and this can be a hazard for them when they are not ready.
If you are uncertain when you should move your child out of a booster seat, make sure that you look at the height and weight limitations on the booster seat as this will indicate when they are ready to be moved.
If your child is under the weight limit for the booster seat, continue to let them use it.
If they are over the weight and height limit, you will need to move them to a more comfortable seat. This will allow them to be more protected and comfortable when they are in the vehicle.
Do Not Put Blankets Underneath Car Seat Straps
Car seat straps can be uncomfortable as they need to be tight to keep your child safe and secure.
However, as these straps need to be tight, you should never try to take away the pressure by putting blankets underneath the strap as this can cause the straps to loosen.
The straps shouldn’t be so tight that they restrict your child’s movements or breathing, but they need to be tight enough that they can protect your child in the event of a crash.
Make sure that the straps are snug and that your child is safely secure in the car seat.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, the fire department is not known for installing car seats anymore, but some firefighters will be able to help you if they are CPS-certified.
If they are not, they will refuse to install the car seat as they are not properly trained and it is too risky to install the car seat in case something goes wrong.
You can install the car seats yourself or find a certified CPS technician who can help you, but it is extremely important to make sure that the seat is secure.
This will keep your child safe in the event of a crash and help them to stay protected.
Always read the manuals of both your car and the car seat to help you install the seat.
