Car seat safety program helps kids, parents

Douglas County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Biaggini tells the story of the couple who came in for a car safety seat for their child who was restrained in the back of their vehicle in a dog cage strapped down with a seat belt.

Or, the family whose car seat had been in a fire, but they were still using it for their child until they could get to the sheriff's office for a replacement.

His favorite story, though, is the one about the deputies who responded to an accident and found a baby and toddler upside down " but safely strapped in their car seats without a scratch " in an overturned vehicle.

"People are getting a lot smarter about using safety seats for their children," Biaggini said. "But we still see some kids running around in the back seat or not properly secured."

Since 2000, Biaggini has administered the department's child seat safety installation and inspection program with a grant from the federal Office of Traffic Safety, and the assistance of the Carson Valley Kiwanis Club.

"I estimate we've inspected 1,960 seats since May 2000, removed about 360 seats from service, and issued 800 new seats," he said.

Parents and caregivers may schedule an appointment for a free inspection of their children's safety seats. Specially trained technicians make sure the seat is properly installed.

"Parents are still making mistakes on installation and the way they position the child, where the restraining clip goes and stuff like that," Biaggini said.

For $45, a family can purchase a new car seat that technicians will install.

"We have seats for children weighing 5 through 100 pounds," Biaggini said. "If money is a problem, we won't send anybody away."

He can get seats even smaller as evidenced by the four preemie-sized child safety seats the department donated to Darah and Joe Shatswell who are expecting quadruplets in a few days.

Biaggini is adamant that no child be placed in an adult seat belt who is under 4 feet 9 inches tall or weighs less than 100 pounds.

"It doesn't matter how old they are," he said. "They just don't fit right. An adult seat belt system is designed for a 5-foot-8-inch man weighing 175 pounds."

The county has fitting stations at the Minden and Gardnerville Ranchos fire stations, the sheriff's office in Minden and the Roundhill fire station at the Lake.

"The program is all about how to properly install for the safety of the child and how to use the harness system," Biaggini said. "Parents don't always realize as the child grows, you have to adjust the harness system and relocate it. We make adjustments to assure the child actually stays in the seat and the harness does its job properly."

He discourages parents and caregivers from putting their children in used car seats.

"Don't buy one at a garage sale; don't acquire a seat you don't know the actual history of. If it's been involved in a crash, it may not hold a child if it gets in another crash. The webbing gives way on a seat belt once it's been in a crash, and you need to get rid of it," Biaggini said.

He said parents should replace car seats every six years.

"Our hot and cold weather makes the plastic brittle," he said. "Our concern is the integrity of the seat. It will not hold up in any significant crash beyond six years."

The inspection and installation process takes about 20-30 minutes, and Biaggini asks that parents schedule appointments in advance. Information is available in English and Spanish.

There is no penalty for parents who show up without car seats.

"There is no law enforcement," Biaggini said. "Parents are there to find out what to do and take care of their kids."

Parents don't have to be Douglas County residents.

"We've had people come from Carson City and Reno," he said.

Between deputies, paramedics and firefighters, Biaggini estimated there are 20 trained safety seat technicians in Douglas County. They have complete a week-long class and are recertified every two years.

"A lot of the guys like to do this," Biaggini said. "It's something positive. People aren't being arrested or issued citations, and you're not dealing with anybody unruly. It's a very popular program for parents and it is appreciated."