Photo By Sgt. Tabitha Bartley | Jimmy Thacker, firefighter, Marine Corps Base Quantico Fire Department, points out how...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Seven years ago Jimmy Thacker, firefighter, Marine Corps Base Quantico, took it upon himself to attend training on his own to become certified in checking car seats. The course was 32 hours and required him to take leave to attend.
Thacker is currently the only person on base certified by Prince William County Fire Department to check car seats and show how to properly install them.
“I went because I wanted to provide that service to the base,” said Thacker.
The service Thacker provides is more than just putting in the car seat. Thacker has been trained to teach how to install a car seat the right way.
“The biggest issue I see wrong is the angle of the car seat,” said Thacker. “We have fought for a long time to get improvements on car seats and they are finally providing the equipment we need to make it safe.”
Car seats that are being manufactured now have a meter that shows by color when car seats are at the right angle. Vehicle manufactures are also making it safer for children.
“Everything you need to know about where to put your car seat and whether or not you have a latch system is in your cars manual,” said Thacker.
One thing Thacker knows people won’t be happy to hear is to remove the toys from the carrying handles.
“If it didn’t come with the car seat and a doctor didn’t tell you to put it on there take it off,” said Thacker.
The best way to know if your car seat is installed the right way is to have it checked said Ulysses Taormina, assistant fire chief, Marine Corps Base Quantico.
“Not only are we trying to prevent and ensure car seats are installed properly we are also trying to give parents a piece of mind that their car seats are in the right way,” said Taormina.
Marine Corps Base Quantico isn’t the only fire department that has certified personnel to check car seats. Thacker said that all fire departments in Prince William County have at least one fire fighter who is certified. In Stafford County the sheriff’s department does inspection on Thursdays.
“To me it seems like the firefighters have taken on this role because of the amount of calls we have responded to and the amount of children we have seen in vehicles,” said Taormina. “We have seen firsthand the consequences of children not being put in a car seat the proper way throughout our career.”
To schedule a time to have a car seat looked at or properly installed on base call Fire Department 31 on main side at 703-784-2686. To check for off base inspection call or stop by the nearest fire station.
“I’ve been a firefighter for 27 years,” said Thacker. “I have seen a lot of bad things, that’s why I have been a tech for seven years. I have kids myself and I just really wanted to help my community and the members of the base.”
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2013 12:53 |
| Story ID: | 112674 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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