GPD-led safety clinic sees 10 obsolete car seats replaced

Friday, September 21, 2012
Examining a car seat occupied by Wilson Hecko, Greencastle City Police car safety seat technician Darcy Hendershot determines the seat is too small for the three-year-old son of Amber Bowers and John Hecko, Greencastle. The car seat was one of 10 replaced by GPD during the recent safety clinic at Putnam County Hospital. Watching the in-car assessment is Lori Lucas of the PCH Marketing Department.

The Greencastle Police Department (GPD) conducted its annual car seat safety clinic Saturday at the Putnam County Hospital as a part of the National Child Passenger Safety Week of Sept 15-22.

The effort resulted in a total of 15 car seats being checked for proper fitting, proper installation and the known history of the car seat.

Technicians asked if the driver was the original owner of the seat and whether they were aware of it ever having been involved in an accident.

The clinic effort also replaced 10 seats for a number of reasons, including the child outgrowing the seat; the seat having missing labels; an unknown history of the seat; and the seat being borrowed or loaned to the family.

The car seat clinic is conducted annually by the police department as part of the Permanent Fitting Station requirements, which mandate one car seat clinic per year.

Along with the requirement for the Permanent Fitting Station, each certified technician is required to participate in a car seat clinic for his or her certification, which is good for two years.

Five technicians participating in the Sept. 15 car seat clinic at PCH were Darcy Hendershot of the Greencastle Police Department; Alia Hazel of the Putnam County Tobacco Cessation Program; Nicole Christlieb of the Greencastle Housing Authority; and Sgt. Chris Jones and Chief Tom Sutherlin with the Greencastle Police Department.

GPD officials said 22 car seats were donated for the program by the three local State Farm Insurance agents, Therese Cunningham, Heather Taylor and Brad Tucker.

The Greencastle Police Department also received a $500 grant from Indiana University through the Automotive Safety Program to spend on car seats and supplies for the Car Seat Clinic, Chief Sutherlin noted.

Members of the Law Enforcement class, taught by GPD Capt. Charles Inman at Area 30 Career Center, assisted with the clinic, along with Lori Lucas of the Putnam County Hospital Marketing Department.

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