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Wing safety provides car seat training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jensen Stidham
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Fighter Wing Safety Office conducted child car seat inspections here April 24.

Team Shaw members were afforded the opportunity to bring their children and car seats to the event. Experts provided tips and live demonstrations on how to effectively and efficiently use car seats to keep children safe while traveling.

"Wing safety comes out here to quality check the car seats," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Freeman, 20th Fighter Wing Safety NCO in charge of ground safety. "We make sure that the parents are properly trained on how to install the seats. Not all car seats are installed the same way."

Though correct installation of a car seat keeps children safe, it's not the most important part of car seat safety, explained Freeman.

"First off, you have to know how much your child weighs and how tall they are," said Freeman. "Both of those affect which type of car seat the child needs. You shouldn't have a newborn strapped into a seat meant for a toddler."

Throughout the afternoon several Team Shaw members brought their vehicles, car seats and children to be properly trained on each aspect of car seats and how to effectively use them.

"I knew my car seat wasn't as tight as it should be so I decided to come out and see what other things I might learn" said Melissa Revel, spouse of U.S. Army Maj. Richard Revel, U.S. Army Central future of operations. "I drive a lot on the highway and after coming here and learning more about car seats I know my kids are safer now.

For some, car seat safety may seem simple enough, but safe children means happy families.

"If we can facilitate safe, happy families, then we will be more effective as a base," said Freeman.