CHOP/Philly Fire Co. Partner on Car Seat Checks

November 2, 2011 — The Philadelphia Fire Department is partnering with Kohl’s Injury Prevention Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the local Safe Kids Coalition to host monthly educational training programs on how to properly install infant and child passenger safety seats.

Car seat checks held at Engine 22's fire station on Comly Road

The kick-off ribbon cutting ceremony at Engine 22, where the safety seat inspections occur, marked the beginning of this partnership. The trainings are held at Engine 22’s fire station located at 3270 Comly Road, on the third Monday of every month from 5-8 p.m. The sessions will be by appointment only and conducted by Child Passenger Safety Certified Technicians.

Car seat checks reduce improperly installed child passenger safety seats

These trainings aim to reduce the number of improperly installed child passenger safety seats. Approximately 80 percent of all car seats are not properly installed resulting in the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Through this partnership, the Kohl’s Injury Prevention Program, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Safe Kids Coalition and the Philadelphia Fire Department, will be able to reach a greater number of families within the city.

“With Kohl’s support we are able to reach out to more families in the community to make sure our children are safe,” said Marla Vanore, MHA, RN, and director of Trauma and Injury Prevention Programs at Children’s Hospital. “Seat checks are important because studies have shown most parents are not sure how to install seats properly, and in fact, the majority are not safely secured.”

“The success of this program is integral to the safety of infants and children in the city and it is a goal of the Philadelphia Fire Department to initiate safety seat checks in every battalion in the city,” said Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. “Improving the safety of every citizen in Philadelphia is a top priority of the Fire Department and this program is an important addition to our existing programs.”

Kohl's Cares partnership with CHOP

Kohl’s Cares, the company's philanthropic initiative in the Philadelphia region, donates 100 percent of the net profits from the sale of its exclusive $5 books and plush toys toward supporting hospital partnerships like this one and have to date donated more than $5 million to Children’s Hospital.

About the Trauma Prevention Program at CHOP

The Trauma Prevention Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia began in 1986. For more information, call 215-590-5437.