The Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) and the Florida Department of Health partnered to host a Car Seat Rodeo recently at Fire Station 1. The event had professional car seat technicians to educate families about car seat safety, install car seats and teach parents and caregivers proper installation techniques. The goal was to reduce child injuries and fatalities due to improper car seat installation.

PFD’s certified car seat technicians reviewed each seat for proper fit, child height and weight, seat damage, missing parts, expiration dates and more. If a car seat was determined to be unsafe, a replacement car seat was provided at no cost. The event had over 100 car seats available.

Residents were encouraged to allow 30 minutes for their seat’s installation. The PFD requested that children be present so they could be properly fitted into the seat.

“This event allows us to provide invaluable training to the community and protect our children at the same time,” Fire Chief Ginny Cranor said. “The Car Seat Rodeo is an opportunity to help prevent tragedy through proper education and training, and it continues to be one of the Fire Department’s most important events of the year.”

Car Seat Safety

  • 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly.
  • 3 children are killed on average in U.S. traffic crashes daily, and an estimated 487 are injured.
  • 71% of infants and 54% of toddlers are at a decreased risk of fatal injury when car seats are properly used.
  • 45% of 4- to 8-year-olds are at a reduced risk of nonfatal injuries when booster seats are properly used.
  • In 2017, 325 children under age 5 were estimated to have been saved because of the use of child restraints.

To learn more about car seat safety, visit safekids.org.

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