Awesome car seat check yesterday

Stretchy Glue

New member
The state patrol was having an emphasis patrol on a stretch of highway this weekend that is usually traveled on like a race track. They were specifically targeting DUI's and speeding. They also had an education set up at a rest area, and asked me to come along. It isn't a good stretch of highway, and I didn't anticipate anyone stopping.

The WSP sent up one trooper/tech and honestly, I was worried because some of our L.E./techs are less than stellar. It turned out to be awesome. He took the tech class on his own, then told the WSP that he was a tech, was very thorough, EXTREMELY concerned about whiplash which was really cool to see.

We didn't have high numbers, but we had HORRIBLE seat situations that we fixed. We put more kids in the front seat than I care to admit, but the options were to leave them in the back seat of a truck with no headrests and a glass window, or a Dodge 12 passenger van with no whiplash protection.

We had old cars, SUVs where the front seat didn't latch and the seat flips forward into the window (and shattered it) whenever the driver stopped quickly, and many other really scary situations.

I think total we checked about 12 seats but this trooper/tech was so fun to work with. People would stop in to get child ID kits, and he'd walk up to them and say "I noticed such and such in your car, can I take a look?" and just walk up to the car and start fixing things.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the kind of check up where we could have the parents doing a lot because the situations were usually so bad that it took the two of us thinking and trying things to create a safER situation.

I've also never had to say in one clinic "There is no safe way to do this" 4 times!

Anyway, I'm kind of on a high after yesterday. It wasn't one of those checks where people show up with new car seats in boxes and you get to put in something brand new, it was the kind of situation that you got to REALLY make a difference.
 
ADS

Maedze

New member
:thumbsup:

FYI, though, not to be a total bubble-popper :eek:, statistically, kids are safer in the back seat with no head rests than the front seat WITH head rests :eek:

We had an awesome check event yesterday as well. It was in university housing, almost all occupied by international grad students, who were coming to the US with their families and not a CLUE about safe car seat use.


There were parents who didn't realize you needed a car seat even if you were riding in someone else's car, parents who had fished 12 year old seats out of garbage bins and cleaned them up, and, I kid you not, one parent who had her child in the middle position of the car, lap belt only, in a Safety First portable table booster.

I think we threw away at least half the seats we checked!
 

Maedze

New member
We had Apex 65s, Titans, Graco TB high backs, and Evenflo BK and Graco TB backlesses. Worked out well, every one who needed a seat got one.
 

Jonah Baby

New member
I kid you not, one parent who had her child in the middle position of the car, lap belt only, in a Safety First portable table booster.

I swear I saw someone doing this the other day, wonder if it was the same person...

I also saw someone on Craigslist trying to sell a child's hook-on table booster as a carseat. She said "it is completely compatible"...oh boy. Are table boosters a new travel trend in W. Mass?
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,656
Messages
2,196,896
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top