The Fire Department tested my seat...

amyd

New member
What on earth does this mean? I hear it often enough that I don't think people are just making it up. So what are they doing at the FD to "test" these seats? Anyone know? Or want to hazard a guess? Right now, I'm picturing big burly firemen yanking on the straps with all their might:scratcheshead:
 
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SarahLong

New member
They're not testing the seat itself, they're testing the seat's install in the vehicle, as well as it's use by the parent. They check the install for correct belt path use, seatbelt/latch not being twisted, tether correctly connected, less than 1in of movement, etc, as well as strap tightness, chest clip placement, shoulder strap height, etc. If it is incorrectly installed, they will show the parent how to correctly do so, and then have the parent reinstall it correctly before they leave, and educate the parent on how to properly harness the child.
 

Melodiya99

New member
They're not testing the seat itself, they're testing the seat's install in the vehicle, as well as it's use by the parent. They check the install for correct belt path use, seatbelt/latch not being twisted, tether correctly connected, less than 1in of movement, etc, as well as strap tightness, chest clip placement, shoulder strap height, etc. If it is incorrectly installed, they will show the parent how to correctly do so, and then have the parent reinstall it correctly before they leave, and educate the parent on how to properly harness the child.

:yeahthat: I think that's at least what's supposed to happen...the stories I've heard of car seats checked at the firestation haven't always sounded so reliable. I don't think all stations have certified cpsts either.
 

Cryssy Jane

New member
nope. In my city there are no cpsts at all, fire station, police station, nada. I was pretty disapointed. The excuse given was that they don't have the man power or funding and that it was passed on to the community service traffic people.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
The fire stations here don't have techs either but I hear of firefighters "helping out" anyway, despite a direct department policy to send them to the CHP (who do have techs, not always on duty but they'll make an appointment.) That's one of the big reasons I got certified-- the nearest actual check station is a 45 minute drive away and it is almost impossible to find a tech around here.
 

amyd

New member
No, I don't mean they check the install/use. I mean someone told me that their seat is expired, but the fire department "tested" it & told them it's still okay to use.
 

Maedze

New member
That just means they talked to a firefighter and said, "hey, this is my car seat, someone said it's not safe, would you mind looking at it," and the helpful jake sticks his head in the window and say, "uh, yeah, looks ok to me".
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
That just means they talked to a firefighter and said, "hey, this is my car seat, someone said it's not safe, would you mind looking at it," and the helpful jake sticks his head in the window and say, "uh, yeah, looks ok to me".

:thumbsup:

Yeah, there is really no way for someone to actually test a seat to figure out if it's structurally sound and guarantee that it will hold up in a crash. It's actually bringing a potentially expensive lawsuit against the FD/City should something go wrong, too.
 

Maedze

New member
Right after I got married, before I had kids or new anything about babies except that vaguely babies went in buckets, Dh relayed an interesting phone call he'd had at work. He was pretty new at the job.

DH: X Fire Deparment, Fire Fighter X speaking, how may I help you?

Lady: Hi, yeah, I have a car seat and my doctor told me you guys install car seats.

DH (covering receiver with palm): Hey Cap'n, do we do car seats?

DH (speaking into phone): Uh, well, did an instruction book come with the car seat, because if you want, you can come over and maybe we can have a go at it.

Lady: Oh good, you do do car seats, I'll be right over!

*click*


And THAT is how a firefighter tests a seat. He looks at the manual and has a go :thumbsup:
 

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