Lexi Browning/For The Herald-Dispatch Danielle Arthur demonstrates a safe car seat assembly at the Cabell County 911 Center on Monday, May 20, in Huntington, W.Va.
Lexi Browning/For The Herald-Dispatch Danielle Arthur demonstrates a safe car seat assembly at the Cabell County 911 Center on Monday, May 20, in Huntington, W.Va.
Sometimes the best-laid plans don't quite come together.
The Cabell County Emergency Response Center (CCERC) on Gallaher Street houses the telecommunicators for Cabell County 911. It's also a place where people can get a child safety seat installed by certified professionals.
A local resident was scheduled to have a child seat installed this afternoon, but the plans fell through. However, the staff at the CCERC took the time to demonstrate the installation of a seat and to talk up the program.
Keeping children safe on West Virginia's roadways is a priority for the Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP). The GHSP Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program receives federal funding that provides the educational materials, training and supplies the program needs. Many certified instructors and technicians all across the state are trained to install car seats properly.
CCERC has certified installers on staff to help.
"We do at least 14 or 15 a month," said Natalie McComas, who heads up the CCERC safety seat program. "But if we have an event, we have more."
The most recent event was Milton Volunteer Fire Department's 70th anniversary celebration where the certified instructors checked car seats for anyone who wanted to insure they had their seats installed correctly.
Safe Kids Worldwide trains the instructors. One of the instructors, Danielle Arthur, gave a demonstration of car seat installation. Through federal funding, car seats are available to the public provided they meet the criteria.
"We have to keep track of how many seats we install or check," McComas said. "We fill out a form for every one we install or check and turn it into the governor's program."
The installers are not allowed to install used seats or suggest a brand of car seat.
"We use a national car seat app and can tell if it's expired by putting in the serial number," McComas said.
Anyone wanting a seat checked or installed may call the CCERC at 304-526-8555 and make an appointment.
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