Safety-seat program receives $5K

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The Crown Point Fire Department, with Franciscan St. anthony Health will host a car seat training program. Helping make this event possible are, from left to right, Luke Reed from St. Anthony's, Sue Riester, Crown Point Community Foundation business manager, Mike Parks, Crown Point Fire and Rescue chief of training and safety, and Justin Gettler, a Crown Point firefighter/paramedic and safety seat technician. | Photo Provided~Sun-Times Media

CROWN POINT — The Crown Point Fire-Rescue Department, in conjunction with Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point, has been running a Child Passenger Safety Program for a number of years.

The Crown Point Community Foundation has donated $5,000 to help support the program. By appointment the fire department has certified safety seat technicians conduct training for parents, grandparents and other caregivers who transport children on the correct use of car seats.

It all starts with the correct installation because each seat and vehicle is different. Car seats must go in the rear seats. Making it secure is the first step.

Certified technicians conduct the safety clinics, taught by technicians from the fire department.

From seats designed for brand new infants to the changes for new bigger seats that must be made as the child grows, installations vary. They also teach the adults how to properly place and secure an infant or child in that seat. All of this is designed to keep children safe.

The inspection and training program is done by appointment only. To make an appointment, call the fire department at 662-3248, Ext. 0.

“We couldn’t continue to do the program while the inspectors are on duty (as firefighters and paramedics/EMT). This pays for the salaries of the technicians, so they (can do the training when they) are not on duty and do not have to leave if a call comes in,” said Mike Parks, division chief of training.

According to Parks, the program also receives funding from the Geminus Community Partners.

The city has occasionally held large training events at various locations but most parents will come into the station by appointment.

According to Parks, the program also receives funding from the Geminus Community Partners.