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Car Seat Check Information

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Car Seat Checks 

Our next car seat check day is scheduled for April 13, 2023 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at Station 6 in Erie. 

 

You must register below for an appointment spot.  Each car seat needs one appointment spot.  

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If our event doesn't work with your schedule please check with these surrounding agencies!

Longmont Fire Department 

Berthoud Fire Protection District

Boulder Rural Fire Protection District  

Frederick/Firestone Fire Protection District  

Your car seat manufacturer will most likely have a website or YouTube video on how to install the specific brand of car seat you have correctly. 

Have a car seat installation question? Email education@mvfpd.org with your question!

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You also can check with your local MVFPD station (it may be better to call first) to see if a car seat technician is on duty to assist you with a car seat check and education! 

We were featured on Good Morning America at one of our car seat events!

Here are a few links that provide great information and links to many car seat manufacturer videos! 

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https://www.codot.gov/safety/carseats/car-seat-installation-videos

https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#installation...

The leading cause of death among children ages 3-14 in the United States is motor vehicle accidents.  We can decrease this number by more than half by placing children in appropriate safety seats. Safety seats that are installed correctly can decrease the risk of death by 71% in infants and 54% in toddlers and decrease the risk of injury to children using booster seats by 59%. 

Mountain View Fire Protection District wants to take a stand and keep our kids safe.  According to Safe Kids USA, 55% of fatal crashes happen in rural communities and are usually more severe.  As a significant amount of Mountain View’s District is in the rural area, we believe it is essential to properly install and always use a child’s safety seat. 

As there are many different types of car seats, it’s important to take the time and choose the correct seat to fit your child’s age, weight, and height. The safest seat is the one that is installed correctly and used correctly 100% of the time. 

Rear Facing: Ages 0-2+

Keep children rear-facing until they outgrow their rear-facing convertible seat and are a minimum of two years old. A toddler’s spinal column is still developing, and rear-facing is the best protection for their neck and spine.

  • Position harness straps at or below the shoulders.
  • Place the chest clip at armpit level.
  •  Straps are snug against the child’s torso, and you cannot pinch any slack at their collarbone.

Forward Facing: Ages 2+

Once a child has outgrown their rear-facing convertible seat and is at least two years old, move them to a forward-facing seat with a 5 point harness.

  • Position harness straps at or above the shoulders.
  • Place the chest clip at armpit level.
  • Straps are snug against the child’s torso, and you cannot pinch any slack at their collarbone.
  • Use the top tether if available.

Belt-Positioning Booster: Ages 4+

Once a child has outgrown their forward-facing 5 point harness and is at least four years old, move to a belt-positioning booster. It is important that the child is mature enough to stay sitting in a position with their seat belt fitting correctly for the entire ride.

  • The shoulder belt should fit flush with the torso and even across the collarbone.
  • The lap belt should sit low on the hips, touching the tops of the thighs.
  • If using a high back booster, position the shoulder belt guide at or above the child’s shoulders.
  • If using a backless booster, position the vehicle’s headrest so the child’s ears are not above the top of the headrest.

Seat Belt Alone: Ages 8+

Colorado law requires children to ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday, but most children are not tall enough to fit safely in a seat belt until they are 4’9” tall: average for an 11-year-old. To determine if your child is ready to ride without a booster, they should be able to:

  • Sit all the way back in the vehicle seat.
  • Knees bend at the edge of the vehicle seat.
  • The shoulder belt fits flush against the torso and even across the collarbone.
  • The lap belt sits low on the hips, touching the tops of the thighs.
  • The child can stay seated this way comfortably for the entire ride.

All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat when available!

Additional Safety Tips

  • Install your car seat using LATCH or seat belt, not both.
  • The car seat should not move more than 1” side to side or front to back once installed.
  • Check your vehicle manual for rules about which seating positions have LATCH and what the LATCH weight limit is.
  • Check your car seat manual for information about car seat expiration, height, and weight limits.
  • Never use a seat that has been involved in a crash.
  • Remove bulky clothing and coats before buckling up.
  • Never use items in your car seat that didn’t come with the seat. 
  • How to use a car seat in the winter -https://youtu.be/803uu2JwieE

Mountain View Fire Protection District believes in keeping our children safe.  By following these rules and routinely checking the car seat, we can reduce the number of child injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle accidents. 

Please contact education@mvfpd.org with any questions.