Ensuring your child’s safety while traveling is paramount, and правильная установка детского автокресла is a crucial aspect of this. Butte County Public Health (BCPH), with funding from the Office of Traffic Safety, is dedicated to child passenger safety and offers a range of services for residents. If you’re in Butte County and need assistance with car seats, BCPH provides invaluable resources including educational classes, personalized appointments, and inspection events, sometimes even offering free car seats to those who qualify through their programs.
Comprehensive Car Seat Education: Classes, Appointments, and Events
BCPH understands that parents and caregivers have diverse schedules and learning preferences. To accommodate this, they offer three main avenues for car seat education and support: bi-monthly classes, one-on-one appointments, and community inspection events. Each of these options is designed to empower you with the knowledge and resources needed to keep your children safe on the road.
Bi-Monthly Car Seat Safety Classes
For a comprehensive learning experience, BCPH holds bi-monthly car seat classes in Chico and Oroville. These evening classes are structured to provide a thorough understanding of child passenger safety. The first half of the session covers essential topics such as California car seat laws, the different types of car seats available, their components, and the correct methods for car seat installation in various vehicles. Crucially, the classes also guide participants in selecting the most appropriate car seat type for their child’s age, weight, and height. The latter half of the class is highly practical: car seats are distributed to participants, who then install them in their vehicles with guidance and have their installation inspected by certified technicians before they leave. To participate in these valuable classes, pre-registration is required.
Personalized One-on-One Car Seat Appointments
Recognizing that attending a class isn’t feasible for everyone, BCPH offers individual appointments with certified Car Seat Technicians. These personalized sessions are held at various locations throughout Butte County, based on the caregiver’s location and technician availability. Similar to the classes, these appointments cover car seat laws, types, and parts. If you already own a car seat, the technician will inspect it for recalls, expiration dates, and ensure it’s the right fit for your child. Participants who are eligible may also receive a car seat during these appointments. In such cases, you will install the car seat with guidance and have it inspected before the appointment concludes, ensuring proper and safe installation.
Community Car Seat Inspection Events
Throughout the year, BCPH organizes “drive-thru” car seat inspection events across Butte County. These events provide a convenient way to receive car seat education and inspection, mirroring the one-on-one appointment format but in a community setting. Education on best practices is provided, existing car seats are inspected for safety and proper use, and car seats may be distributed to those in need, subject to availability and eligibility criteria. These events offer accessible support to ensure children are riding safely.
Additional Programs: Community and Technician Training
Beyond direct services to parents and caregivers, BCPH extends its expertise to community organizations. They conduct “transporter trainings” for professionals who transport children as part of their work, such as social workers. These in-depth, 4-hour sessions cover laws, car seat types, selection based on child size and age, and installation techniques. While participants do not become certified technicians through this training, it equips them with crucial knowledge for their roles.
For those aspiring to become certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, BCPH collaborates with the California Highway Patrol and other partners to host 3-day certification courses and 1-day renewal courses. These nationally recognized trainings are open to individuals even outside Butte County who seek professional certification in child passenger safety. Information on these trainings can be found on the Safe Kids Worldwide website.
To learn more about child passenger safety or to schedule an appointment for personalized assistance or to inquire about the free car seat programs and class schedules, please call 1-800-339-2941 and leave a voicemail with your name, phone number, and the reason for your call. BCPH aims to return calls within three business days, ensuring you get the support you need to protect your precious cargo.
