(Though some hospitals, like the one we used to work for in Denver, do hire CPS techs to work with new parents. They are putting themselves at risk for liability, which is why many hospitals insist that nurses NOT help parents put their child in a car seat. While their desire to help is really admirable, it could be bad for them and for parents. Unfortunately, some firefighters who are not CPS techs do help parents out of the kindness of their heart and their desire to help. But wait, my friend went to the firehouse and they helped? Some fire departments don’t do any car seat checks at all any more and some have a few firefighters or public information officers who are trained and do car seat checks at certain times. Many fire departments moved away from having trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians on duty. But not necessarily all the time or every firehouse or even every fire department. And sometimes you can go to the firehouse for a car seat check.

It used to be said, go to your local fire station and have them install your car seat or check for proper installation. Just like you wouldn’t go to your neighbor to have him check your car seat just because he is Dad to three kids… unless you’re our neighbor. You wouldn’t go to your vet to deliver your baby just because he helped deliver a calf.

Kohls car seat check