Fire Department: Public Education
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is designed to provide a well-trained volunteer work force in every neighborhood. The ideal CERT member is anyone who desires to learn the skills required to assist themselves and their neighbors during a disaster. The goal of the CERT program is community self-sufficiency during the first 72 hours of a disaster. More details, including how to sign up for CERT can be found here.
Car Seat Clinics
If you have ever read though a car seat manual and wondered if your child’s car seat was installed correctly you know that this is something that you want to get right. According to national statistics nearly 85% of all car seats are installed incorrectly, that’s why the Fire Department holds a Car Seat Safety Clinic the last Wednesday of every month from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Forest Grove Fire Station. These clinics are open to the public.
Our car seat safety technicians will be on hand to help people understand how to properly install their car seats and help keep the precious little ones riding in them safe. A certified technician will be available to work one-on-one with parents and caregivers to ensure that they can install their child restraints properly. Each seat check takes approximately 20-30 minutes. For questions you can email the Car Seat Program Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the station extension at 240. You can also find more information at www.childsafetyseat.org. Car crashes aren’t always preventable but the injuries sometimes are, this information will hopefully help prevent what can be tragic from occurring. If you or someone you know needs this service we hope to see you there!
NEW GUIDELINES RELEASED
In a new policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age. “Policy appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)”
CPR
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue provides regular friends and family CPR classes. Learn how to save a life by calling 503.992.3240 and signing up for one of our regular CPR training sessions.
Educating your children about fire safety could safe their lives. Kid-friendly resources are available to help your kids learn simple lessons in how to protect themselves.
The National Fire Protection Association with their popular mascot Sparky is on the web with games and fun learning tools and the U.S. Fire Administration kid's page offers coloring pages, crossword puzzles and other ways to help kids remember safety tips. They can even complete an on-line quiz to become a Junior Fire Marshal and earn an official certificate.
Please take the time to visit these sites with your children and encourage them to protect themselves.
U.S. Fire Administration
National Fire Protection Agency
USDA Forest
Product Recalls & Safety Information
American Red Cross
Give Life
Child Safety Seats