Fire Station Fitting Station

Goals

• Develop a training and education program that could be replicated by county, city and volunteer fire departments statewide;
• Focus efforts on the proper use and installation of child passenger safety restraint systems for children ages 0-9;
• Create a child passenger safety permanent fitting station network that will allow more readily accessible installation assistance and child passenger safety restraint system education statewide;
• Increase the number of NHTSA certified child passenger safety technicians.

Strategies

Fire stations were selected to participate in the Fire Station Permanent Fitting Station program in 2000. Fire stations were selected based on their locations, hours of operation, availability of fire personnel during shifts and firefighters’ known commitment to injury prevention and protection of life and property. Fitting stations operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Two firefighters who are certified child passenger safety technicians are on duty during hours of operation. Each fitting station is equipped with child safety seats, booster seats, belt shortening clips and other equipment needed to ensure proper installation and seat replacement. Child passenger safety educational materials are distributed. Services are provided at no cost.

Results

• Thirty fitting stations have been established.
• 100 firefighters have been trained as NHTSA certified child passenger safety technicians.
• Fire personnel have hosted 10 child safety seat checks, checking over 594 restraints; 297 parents or childcare providers have received instruction and material.
• Over 72 fire departments statewide are in the process of establishing fitting stations.