UH St. John Offers Free Car Seat Inspection and Certification

Sixteen healthcare professionals including nurses, community outreach, trauma, OB, health educators, from UH St. John and Parma Medical Center’s and Medina Medical, began their training this month to become Certified Passenger Safety Technicians. (CPST’s) CPST’s are skilled coaches who keep kids safe, ensuring that child passengers are properly buckled up incorrectly installed car seats, appropriate for the child’s age and size.

Paul Forthofer, Manager Community Outreach, and Beth Sanders, RN, Trauma Program Coordinator, are pleased to offer proper Child Car Seat installation instruction to the community.

Safe Kids is the certifying body for the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program. Trained nurses from UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital’s Injury Prevention Department will provide the training. After the training these professionals will be certified to check car seats to keep children safe in cars.

On Saturday October 16th from 11am-2pm, A free community car seat check event will be held at Olmsted Falls Fire Department (9274 Columbia Rd. Olmsted Falls)

For a car seat check and to avoid a wait, call 440-827-5440 for reservations. Walk-ins will be accepted. Masks are required during the car seat checks.

Starting in November

Participating Fire and Rescue Departments Partners for car seat fitting stations: First Thursday of the month from 2-5pm, Olmsted Falls, Chief Matt Sheehan • Second Thursday of the month from 2-5pm, North Ridgeville, Chief John Reese • Third Thursday of the month from 2-5pm, Bay Village, Chief Chris Lyons • Fourth Thursday of the month from 2-5pm, North Olmsted, Chief Ed Schepp

“Our mission is to make sure we are present in the community to assist parents with proper car seat installation,” said Beth Sanders, RN, Trauma Program Coordinator.

Participants wanting car seat education, instruction, or a safety check will be asked to call UH SJMC Community Outreach Department at 440-827-5440 for an appointment by a certified technician. This will begin in November 2021.