When it comes to child safety seats, even the pros can get confused
Seat inspections
The Janesville Fire Department holds monthly car seat safety installation and inspection events.
Each inspection takes about 30 minutes and is free. Donations are accepted and go to operate the program. To limit waiting periods for families, appointments are preferred.
To make an appointment for an upcoming event, contact the Car Seat Safety Hotline at 608-921-3786.
These clinics are at Fire Station No. 4, 4117 E. Milwaukee St.:
-- Wednesday, Feb. 13, 8 a.m. to noon.
-- Tuesday, March 19, 2 to 6 p.m.
-- Thursday, April 11, 8 a.m. to noon
-- Thursday, May 16, 2 to 6 p.m.
-- Wednesday, June 12, 8 a.m. to noon.
For individual appointments, call the police department at 608-755-3077 or the fire department at 608-921-3786.
Photo
Janesville firefighter Lt. Jamie Kessenich, right, explains the use and installation of a new rear facing child safety seat to Erin Logue, her daughter Gracelynn and friend Dennis Hayes. Janesville fire stations hold events every month to help local residents install child car seats as part of the Child Car Seat Inspection Program.
JANESVILLE — Kate Womack and her husband, Derrick, were ready to play musical chairs when they pulled their two vehicles into Fire Station No. 4.
They brought five child safety seats, two of them new.
Their daughter had grown out of her infant car seat, bumping her older brother into a new one. Because the couple have two vehicles, they decided it would be easier to install two seats in each vehicle.
So the Womacks returned to the Child Car Seat Inspection Program, which helped them the first time they needed car seat help.
Minutes earlier, Erin Logue of Janesville had arrived, worried that the car seat she received from her mom for Christmas didn't face backward, as it should for babies.
Janesville Fire Chief Jim Jensen said he's been amazed at the popularity of the program that offers trained technicians from the fire and police departments to teach parents how to properly install safety seats.
Low-cost seats also are available for low-income residents.
Janesville fire stations hold half-day events every month. Help also is available by appointment.
Parents arrive in droves. As many as 45 have shown up during one four-hour session, said Lt. Jamie Kessenich, who spearheads the program for the fire department.
Car seats are a serious but complicated business, and concerned parents often wonder whether they are installed correctly.
The array of models is confusing. Directions are difficult to understand. Not all models fit all vehicles. Even having other passengers in the vehicle must be factored into a seat's position.
Kessenich recalled how years ago she made an appointment at the Rock County Sheriff's Office to find out if her car seat was installed correctly.
It was not.
"It was kind of scary," Kessenich recalled. "I'm thinking, ‘I'm in the safety business. I should be able to figure this out.'"
Janesville police and fire officials decided the fire department was a better fit to host the program. Kessenich became a child passenger safety technician and then an instructor.
Ten firefighters and police officers now are trained to help at the clinics and take appointments.
In 2008, Kessenich received a state grant to create a child passenger safety seat fitting station. Yearly grants allow her to offer free seats to low-income people and to sell seats at cost. Money donated by American Family Insurance purchased the trailer to store the seats.
The technicians encourage parents to try installing the seats before they arrive at clinics so the parents have some idea how the seats work.
Most seats arrive with at least one problem, including car seats and harnesses that are too loose or seats that are positioned at improper angles. Parents often turn children to face the front too early. They should face the rear until they are 2 years old. Booster seats are required for older children so seat belts fall at the right places on their hips.
Car seats expire after six years, something some parents don't know.
"Our ultimate goal is, when they leave here, they can go to clean the car and they can put it (the car seat) in exactly like we did it," Kessenich said.
On Tuesday, Logue and family friend Dennis Hayes listened as Kessenich gave them a car seat primer.
"The closer (the harness) gets to the chest, the better off they are," Kessenich said, demonstrating with the width of her finger.
"I want to make sure she's OK," Hayes said, referring to 9-month-old Gracelynn.
Nearby, officer Laurie Valley did acrobatics in the confines of the Womack van, sitting on a car seat to ratchet it in securely.
Kate Womack said she appreciated the lesson and recommended it to all parents.
"It was just really reassuring to know that they were in properly and securely," Womack said.
Jan 19, 2013 at 12:32 p.m.
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vet- I am just trying to help if you are being a jerk again. sorry for helping.
Jan 19, 2013 at 10:12 a.m.
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Hey Frogger, thanks for all the information, you've done yourself proud.
Jan 19, 2013 at 9:25 a.m.
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michelle- you have a little guy. True broken leg would be better.
As far as the seat life- yes read your directions. So many never read the directions.
One more if the cars' head rest interferes with the car seat being upright in the correct position take it off and store someplace but not IN in the car. Also for vans the seats recline- be sure seat is in the upright postion.
Jan 19, 2013 at 8:28 a.m.
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My family is very grateful for programs like these. We were clueless on how to install our daughter's car seat. LATCH? Where does that belt go? The directions weren't clear at all. Before she was born, we took the car seat in to one of these free programs and got peace of mind that we'd be bringing our daughter home safely. I am glad to hear these programs are gaining popularity. Free and you gain a lot of valuable information.
Jan 19, 2013 at 3:29 a.m.
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Some bad info in the comments here...
Imjustsaying, how many serious car accidents were you in during your child hood? You're alive, so I'm going to say NONE. Very lucky. "When you know better, you do better."
Frogger, my son will be 4 years old next month. STILL REAR FACING. 38lbs, 41". Happy and SAFE. There are 0 documented cases of broken legs from rear facing beyond 1 year, but a forward facing child is 40% more likely to suffer a broken leg in an accident.
"Broken leg, cast it! Broken neck, casket."
I will 100% pick my son breaking a leg over breaking his neck.
Not all car seats expire in 6 years. Some are 8, or even 10. Always check with the manufacture.
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:47 p.m.
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I remember when I was four years old riding with our landlord to the liquor store (now called Real Cheese Place on Milton Ave.), and really hating it because I kept sliding back and forth along the bench seat because the car had no seat belts.
How things have changed since 1965...
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.
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Be sure the angle is correct for rear facing. THis is very important for young infants. You can use the scale on seat but best to just use a piece of paper and fold it. Ask the girl the trick she will know. Wish I could draw on here. I am a terrible writer. Take corner of letter paper fold it up from left bottom corner to the right side. You have asorta triangle. that angle on the side of paper is placed in the seat. When you are at 45 degrees the top of the paper should be straight. Some vehicles will need a "noodle" in the crack of the seat to get this to 45 degrees. Noodle- like what kids swim with. They dont compact like towels or newpapers. Alway retighter the carseat if needed. ok good night
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:08 p.m.
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One more quick one. Only good for ONE crash even if it is minor. Get a new seat and destroy the old one. Once those belts take an impact they stretch and wont stretch again for the next time. Don't risk it!
PS again same as our belts in a car. replace the belts if any crash.
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:06 p.m.
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I used to inspect seat too. For ever one that was correct about 20 were wrong. Go visit and see what you are doing wrong. I had a lady insist I turn her 8 month old forward facing. I said NO. She said you have to. I said no the rules (then) are 1 yr and 20 lbs. She was so mad. I said don't you care about your babie's safety??? She said I cannot see my baby. So what. You don't see them sleeping!
MAybe the law/ advice has changed on the 2 yar thing. For some kids good luck finding a rear facing for a two year old and large weight limits. When I did this it did change to 1 yr and if the weight was rated for 30 lbs then leep them in rear facing until they meet max weight. So could be 1 1/2 yr and 35 lbs. You have to look at height as well. You don't want legs broken.
SOme tips I learend that will help.
Rear facing- where belts come out of seat would be below the shoulder- behind the back.(to keep them down in the seat. Forward facing that belt strap goes above. The bely clip need to be threaded correcty and even with arm pits so the baby doesn't slide out through the top of those belts. Only two fingers should fit behind that belt and the childs body. Keep those bulky coats from under the belts. IF you need a coat put in on them backwards for travel. Same goes for adults. The less movement the better. When installing put you whole body weight right in that car seat to compress the car's seat cushion. Tether nd anchors LATCH makes things easier and less error. Get rid of those toys and mirrors and pads. If they did not come with the seat they were not crash tested with the seat and are a "flying object" danger to your child. Secure the other "crap" in your car. I did an inspection once with a fire extingushier NOT secured in the car. MAke me sick to my stomach. There are so many other tips but go to go now. I will post some others. These are some of the top mistakes I had seen.
Oh if you seat is old cut it in half and junk it. They go through so many weather temps and changes. This is why they say only 6 years(used to be 10). ALWAYS send in recall papers. This is the most important. I know you never send in a warranty card but DO this!!
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