*But not all car seats fit all cars. You may have to try out different models to fit your vehicle. In San Diego County many of the California Highway Patrol Offices have a designated officer to help install your car seat. Check the list below for the nearest office.

• For some immediate help visit: www.carseat.org – great for recall information. Check it regularly for any changes or alerts.
• Pacific Safety Council

The Resources For Safety Carseat Installations…

(The following list is subject to change – please call ahead to schedule an appointment)
Here in San Diego County – to check and see if your car seat is installed correctly, “several people” have been trained to help install safety car seats to better protect your children. There are several resources to turn to for help.

Here are some of the Law Enforcement sources trained in Safety Car Seat installations – these are by appointment only: Not all car seats are used correctly. Did you know that you can have a trained technician check and show you how to install your child’s car seat?

By appointment:

• CHP Offices
• El Cajon CHP – 619-401-2000 – Officer Brian Pennings
• La Mesa
  La Mesa Police 619-667-1400 – Car seat check 1st Tuesday of the month – check-in at 8:30 am – checks from 9am to 11am – carseats free for La Mesa residents, others $46 fee.
• Pacific Highway CHP 619-220-5492
  Car seat check is planned for October 9th from 8am to 2pm.
• Oceanside CHP 760-757-1675
  Car seat check planned for October 7th – 9am to 11am & 1pm to 3pm.
• Temecula CHP 951-506-2000
• Escondido Police 760-839-4707
  Checked Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 12pm by appointment only.
• Encinitas Sheriff 760-966-3587
• Bonita Fire Department 619-479-2346
• Solana Beach Fire Department 858-720-4411
• Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department 858-756-5971

Saturday Events:

• Safe Kids San Diego858-576-1700 x 5096
  • Pacific Safety Council – 858-621-2313 x116
    Safety Council Online
  • Car Seat Safe 619-379-7980
    carseatsafe@cox.net
    Absolute Safety 619-925-1628
  • San Diego Safe Kids Coalition will check car seats and the number to reach a tech is 858-576-1700 x5096.
    Please visit www.safetycouncilonline.com for once a month car seat check up events at local retail stores throughout the community.

  

  • Are you and your family riding safely? Are you buying a new vehicle? Please check this Web Site first: www.safercar.gov it’s from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This site includes crash tests and roll-over ratings, defects and recalls, and FAQs about air bags (including side air bags). Check this site regularly!
  • Call the Safety Car Seat information from Rady’s Children’s Hospital – the San Diego Safe Kids Coalition hotline at 858-576-1700, ext-5096, this is a recorded message with all of the locations that one can go to have their seats checked for proper installation. It lists all the locations that are current and active.
    Or write:
    Safety Belt Safe U.S.A
    PO BOx 552
    Altadena, CA 91003
    Or call: 310-222-6860
    Call the Pacific Safety Council at (858) 621-2313 ext. 15, or ex. 16 or call 888-846-4200. Otherwise NHTSA’s website www.nhtsa.dot.gov has an option to search by city or zip code to locate the closest fitting station.
  • Check this next site often for recalls or possible problems with safety car seats:
    Recalls On Products? As your family begins to use items received as holiday gifts, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign encourages you to visit www.recalls.gov to keep up with all the latest product recalls.
    First – know the Law!!!
    Children 6 years old or 60 pounds must be in a child passenger safety seat.
    Infants should ride in rear-facing safety seats as long as possible, until they are 12 months old and weigh 20 pounds. Children, who are at least 1 year old, weigh 20 to 40 pounds, and can no longer ride rear-facing should ride in forward-facing child safety seats.
    Children over 40 pounds should be correctly secured in belt-positioning boosters or other appropriate child restraints or safety car seat until the adult lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (usually around age 8). Once the vehicle safety belts fit children, both lap and shoulder belts should be correctly used.
    All children ages 12 and under should always be properly restrained in the back seat every time, no matter how short the trip.
    All safety seats must be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and vehicle owner’s manual. READ YOUR MANUALS! You will be surprised at the information that is available to you.
  • Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Auto Safety Hotline, (888) 327-4236, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (800) 638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov, to inquire about any recalls or safety notices on child safety seats. When you purchase a new safety seat, return the product registration form provided to the manufacturer to ensure that you will be notified of any recalls.
  • Fines? Legislation (AB 1625), authored by Assemblyman John Benoit, allows penalty assessments and court costs to be added on top of a base fine. In essence, what previously cost $22.50 on a first offense will now run more than three times that amount. Drivers will also face penalties if passengers are not safely buckled.
    There are several exemptions, including cases where:
    *There are other children in the back seat
    *A restraint system cannot properly be installed
    *There is no rear seat
    *The rear seat is rear-facing or side-facing
    Infants less than one year of age or weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in the back, no exceptions, if there is an active passenger air bag in the front seat. A first offense is punishable by a fine of $100; second offenses will cost $250 (Vehicle Code: section 27360.5). Remember – the life of your child is priceless!
  • It’s simple – “Buckle-UP – it’s a snap!!!” Research shows if you buckle-up your children will buckle-up! As emergency agencies, almost daily we see how wearing a seat restraint increases your chances of survival in a car collision. It’s being prepared for the “un-expected”! And it’s the LAW! A law that’s saving lives! Possibly your life or that of a love one.
    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) would like to take this opportunity to remind pediatricians and parents of the AAP recommendations for safe transportation of children.
    Infants should ride in rear-facing child safety seats until they have reached both 20 pounds AND one year of age. The AAP recommends keeping children rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in front of an air bag.
    Children who have outgrown their rear-facing seats should ride in forward-facing car safety seats for as long as the child fits well (eg, ears below the top of the back of the seat and shoulders below the seat strap slots).
    Children who have outgrown their child safety seats but are too small to wear seat belts properly should ride in booster seats. For more information about safe transportation of children who have outgrown their car safety seats, please see the February 5, 1999 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
    Seat belts fit properly when they can be worn with the lap portion of the belt low and tight across the hips, and the shoulder portion across the shoulders without cutting across the face and neck.
    Remember that all children are safest in the back seat.
    Additional Contact Information:
    The Pacific Safety Council
    9880 Via Pasar #F
    San Diego, CA 92126
    Or call directly: (888) 846-4200- toll-free
    (858) 689-0040 Fax

  • For immediate information to help on safety carseat installations, scroll down to “The Resources”… following this are the laws and general information regarding safety carseats.

    Note: As a parent – are you always buckled up correctly? If you wear your seat belt – so will your child! But, is your child’s safety car seat installed correctly?
    Unfortunately studies show over 90% of the safety car seats in use are not installed correctly! So the fatality rate is very high for children involved in car collisions.
    

  • When buying a new safety car seat “always” send in the warranty cards in case of recalls. Don’t scrimp on your child’s safety – never buy a car seat from a garage sale or thrift store, or as a hand me down from a friend.
    -0-
    Facts about Safety Seats:
    Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injuries and death for children.  When used correctly, child safety seats can reduce fatal injuries in cars by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children from age 1-4.
    More than 97 percent of child safety seats are NOT used correctly.
    Safety Seat Guide
    Infants must ride in rear-facing (facing toward the back of the car) safety seats until they are at least 1 year AND weigh 20 pounds.
    Toddlers that are over 1 year and over 20 pounds should ride in a forward-facing child safety seat.
    Young children that are over 40-60 pounds should ride in a forward-facing, belt positioning booster seat.
    The best place to put your child is in the back seat of your car. All children age 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat.
    From Buckle Up San Diego – When going to a Child Safety Seat Checkup:
    Your child is precious cargo! Custom safety seat checks are very thorough and require time. Trained checkers teams require a minimum of 30-45 minutes per seat. We suggest that you come early and be prepared for a wait. We distribute numbers when you check in due to the time required. Plan to let us know how many seats and children you want checked. Many children arrive in seat belts that should be in belt positioning boosters. We will provide guidance on correct fit criteria for children who have outgrown child safety seats.
    When you come to a checkup, please bring your safety seat instruction booklet and the vehicle owners’ manual if possible.
    *Not every child safety seat is appropriate for every child, works correctly in every vehicle or seating position or with the many types of seat belts and retractors.
    Basic information about correct installation and use of child safety seats including boosters, seat belts, air bags and more can be sent to you, if you provide some important information. Every situation, child, vehicle, belt system are different so we need to know the following:
    Your name (spell it please if calling)
    Mailing address
    Age and weight of all children involved
    Due date if pregnant
    From each car seat/booster: Manufacturer name, model name, mftr model number, mftr date. The mftr model number and mftr date are found on a stamped sticker on the back, bottom, or side of each car seat.
    Vehicle make, model, year, 2 or 4 door, air bags…driver/passenger/side-impact.
  • Remember to provide all the necessary information. These details can make a difference in your child’s life!!! Don’t forget to always wear your seat belt and be a good safety role model for your children…in everything you do.
  • Sadly – An example of what can happen if you or your child is not buckled up or buckled up correctly:
    Holiday Highway Crash -
  • From – 7/5/2004 7:27:02 PM
    An unrestrained baby boy who was thrown from an SUV in a crash in Chula Vista died Monday, and his aunt, also ejected from the vehicle, was hospitalized, along with the boy’s sister and mother, who were also injured in the accident.
    The crash on northbound Interstate 805, south of state Route 54, happened just before 8 last night, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Gregg said.
    The family members, from Inglewood, were headed home from the Tijuana Airport, where they picked up a family member, Gregg said. The driver drifted off the road, over-corrected and lost control of the 2003 Ford Expedition, he said.
    “All I remember was the car zig-zagging,” said Esmeralda Ramos, 26, who suffered a broken arm in the crash.
    Her baby, four-month-old Wilbert Ramos died at Children’s Hospital about 1:25 a.m., medical examiner Investigator Michael Ellano said.
    He and his mother were sitting in the middle row of the SUV, he said.
    Ramos said the child was restrained in a car seat, which she said was tied down.
    Ramos said she had to be extricated from the SUV.
    “My head hurts and my hands and I feel very tired and sleepy,” Ramos said in a telephone interview.
    Ramos’ daughter — five-year-old Valerie — broke both her legs in the crash and was taken to Children’s Hospital, Ramos said.
    “They told me she’s being released today,” Ramos said from her hospital bed.
    “She’s coming to see me before she goes home,” Ramos added.
    Ramos’ sister, Maritza Felix, 27, was thrown out the back window, said Ramos.
    Felix suffered a broken shoulder and had internal bleeding, according to Ramos.
    Felix was listed in fair condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
    The other passengers in the vehicle suffered minor to moderate injuries, Gregg said. Alcohol was not suspected in the crash, he said.
    The family was headed to pick up Felix’s mother-in-law, Ramos said

Services for a fee:

***************************************************************************
*Additional resources that can help:

My question – “Are you and your family buckled up safely???”

I’ve also listed a few here that you can call:

*ANGEND:  First Aid, CPR and AED training for businesses.  Bilingual
instructors available.  Call 1-(855) 283-5723.
www.angend.com

* American Red Cross
First aid and CPR classes 619-542-7679
Main office, downtown San Diego 619-542-7400

*AMR – American Medical Response – (858) 492-8111, for their CPR and First Aid Classes.

CPR Now San Diego

http://cprnowsandiego.com/cpraedregistration.aspx

*CPR Pros – check their website at:

http://www.cprpros.com/

*Grafic Health – low cost expert instruction at your home or place of business. CPR – AED – First Aid
Ph: (760) 918-9303
email – grafichealth@sbcglobal.net

* San Diego Project Heartbeat at (619) 243-0909 or 243-0911. CPR – AED – First Aid

*American Heart Association
3640 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA
619-291-7454

* Save-A-Life Educators – for CPR, AED and First Aid Training
Your contact is: Vicki L. Igou
SAVE-A-LIFE EDUCATORS, INC.
Call (619) 669-9911
SAVE A LIFE Educators

Following a disaster what should you do?  The following links will take you to a valuable guide helping you on the road to recovery following a major disaster.  But this information is a “must read” before a disaster occurs…so your recovery is smoother and faster.

http://www.theredguidetorecovery.com/

http://www.theredguidetorecovery.com/TRG_condensed_v8.3.pdf

http://preparesandiego.org/SafeSanDiego.aspx

Are You Ready?

An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Take the quiz to see if you are truly prepared.

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness. The guide has been revised, updated, and enhanced in August 2004 to provide the public with the most current and up-to-date disaster preparedness information available.

To download your copy of this important preparedness guide:

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

For the next 50-hour training academy schedule for both adults and teens, please call TIP.
The fee for the training is $45 per person for training materials and National Trainer fees. Classes take place at night and on the weekends. No prior experience is necessary to attend training or to become a volunteer, however, you must be at least 16 years of age, and have automobile transportation and insurance.
TIP, Inc. of San Diego County needs adult volunteers who are available for either day or night shifts, and teens to respond when needed. For a complete schedule of training times and further information regarding our next class please call the TIP office at (760) 931-2104, or check our website: www.tipsandiego.org
Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of San Diego County, Inc., is a non-profit organization that partners with police and fire emergency personnel and assists on the scene after a tragedy has occurred. We are seeking committed volunteers for its crisis intervention program. Volunteers will be trained to help fellow citizens who are in distress as a result of a traumatic event. Volunteers are called to the scene by a police officer or firefighter to assist citizens who are family members and friends following a natural or unexpected death or victims of fire, crime, flood, suicide, or other crisis situations. We have teams that respond in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lakeside, and Santee.
Please visit TIP San Diego

• If you have a large property, or have a large communty that needs brush clearing – contact “Environmental Land Management.” One of several methods they use to clear brush are “goats.” For more information visit their website: www.ElmGoats.com. It’s a service that provides hand crews, mastication machinery and goats to clear your brush, weeds and even trees. To speak with them directly, call (619) 234-4555 or email them at contact@elmgoats.com.

• Also consider joining our new EAST COUNTY CERT Program! Click here to learn how you can better protect yourself, your family and your neighborhood!

Safely Surrendered Baby Program

San Diego County Fire Stations have been declared Safe Surrender sites where young parents can bring their newborn baby should they feel they cannot raise the child properly with no questions asked. El Cajon Fire was a part of the ceremony, pictured here (L to R) El Cajon Fire Chief Mike Scott and El Cajon Fire Division Chief Rick Sitta.

If you are unable to raise your newborn baby for any reason please bring your baby to any fire station in the county and leave your baby with our firefighters.  Again – no questions asked.  We’ve been a Safe Surrender Fire Station since May of 2008.

This system was a life saver for many of those evacuated during the October 2007 fires. Residents who live in San Diego County, which includes all 18 cities and the unincorporated areas of the County, are encouraged to register their cell phones and e-mail addresses for emergency notifications by visiting Ready San Diego:

Alert San Diego – “Get Signed Up. Get notified” -

www.sdcountyemergency.com

Once email addresses and cell phone numbers are registered, it will take up to 24 hours for that information to be updated into AlertSanDiego, the County of San Diego mass notification system that is commonly referred as Reverse 911.

AlertSanDiego will provide emergency alerts to your cell phone and e-mail address including evacuation notices. This is in addition to the land line calls received by those who have land line phones.

Residents are able to register multiple cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses by reopening the Web page. Residents without computers may access this Web site from one of the County libraries.

If a City resident has registered a cell phone number with the City of San Diego Reverse 9-1-1 system that information is automatically shared with the County cell phone registry. To register an e-mail address computer users must register with the County system.

Please note that while the County Mass Notification System is considered effective and efficient, you should not wait or rely exclusively on a call for evacuation directives. If you think you are in danger, you should evacuate immediately. If you are directed to evacuate by emergency personnel, you should follow their direction.

• Remember for disaster evacuation centers or help please call “2-1-1″, or on your cell phone call “858-300-1211″

By the way, from time to time they are looking for help in the answering of phones. Please call Megan, at (858) 300-1240 if you’d like to volunteer your time.

They also have a website www.211SanDiego.org

Additional helpful websites:

Click on the following for freeway & street closures in the fire areas:

California Highway Patrol freeway information

If you’d still like to help others through your monetary donations:

To donate to the American Red Cross as they help those who have been evacuated:

American Red Cross

You can donate to the Salvation Army:

Salvation Army Scroll to the donations link on their opening page.

Good defensible space allows firefighters to protect and save buildings or structures safely without facing unacceptable risk to their lives. Fuel reduction through vegetation management is the key to creating good defensible space.

The following link will connect you with some great information provide by the California Fire Safe Council:

http://www.firesafecouncil.org/education/attachments/getready.pdf

Some quick tips to increase your chance of survival on our roadways:
When driving:

• Follow traffic laws made for our safety!
• Always make sure you and your passengers are always buckled-up for the ride!
• Drive carefully, not aggressively – you’ll save lives and fuel.
• Never drink alcoholic beverages and drive – please designate a sober driver before you celebrate.
• No hand held cell phones and NO TEXTING behind the wheel – you’ll see why!
• Be Informed – see the new traffic laws for 2010: http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/media/09-44.pdf
• New laws in 2009: New Laws From CHP

There are other ways to reduce the risk factors of being involved in a collision – whether you’re driving or walking.  If your group, classroom, company conference, company or military safety stand-down would like a life saving – eye opening lecture on “driving safety” please contact our Safety Educator  “Monica Zech” at (619) 441-1737.   

Visit Ms. Zech’s website at www.monicazech.com.  She offers the emergency agency point of view of what they see responding to traffic collisions. 

Some of the areas covered:

• Driver alertness – reducing driver distractions – such as texting
• Curbing stress & road rage behind the wheel
• Aggressive Driving – the dangers of speed, red light running, rolling through stop signs etc.
• Driving impaired - alcohol & other drugs, even being sleepy behind the wheel
• Motorcycles – are they safe
• Pedestrian safety 

Her talks will change the way you drive and view traffic!  Contact her at (619) 441-1737 or via email: monicazech@cox.net.