WAYNESBORO -The Washington Township Police Department is bolstering community safety by introducing a new Child Passenger Safety Technician program. Officer Andrew Weaver and Office Manager Cindy Bros earned national certification as Child Passenger Safety Technicians in June and July, enabling them to assist families in ensuring child safety seats are properly installed.
The certification equips Weaver and Bros to provide expert guidance on the correct installation of car seats and booster seats, ensuring proper fit based on a child’s age, weight, and height. They are also trained to identify recalled or defective seats and evaluate the condition of safety seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger vehicles. The agency also recommends that children under 13 ride in the back seat, as airbags are designed for adults.
To make this expertise accessible, the department now offers free Child Safety Seat Installation Checks by appointment, with walk-ins accepted based on availability. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their car seat or booster, installed to the best of their ability, along with the car seat manual, the vehicle’s owner manual, and their child’s current weight and height. Children are welcome to attend the appointments.
“We’re proud to offer this important service to our community,” said Chief Jason Wolfgang. “We encourage all parents and caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their child’s car seat is installed correctly and safely.”
The department plans to host community events to further promote child passenger safety. To schedule a car seat check, readers may contact the Washington Township Police Department at 717-762-1477 or email [email protected].
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