Winnipeg, MB - Starting today, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) will offer child car seat inspections at Station #27, 27 Sage Creek Boulevard, and Station #23, 880 Dalhousie Drive. To coincide with the new locations, inspections will no longer be offered at Station #14, St. Mary’s Road and Station #22, 1567 Waverley Street. The change in location is aimed at improving availability of the inspections.
Child car seat inspections are done free of charge by firefighters who have received special training. Inspections are done as time permits when crews are not responding to emergency calls. No appointment is necessary.
“A properly installed child car seat plays a critical role in child injury prevention during a motor vehicle accident,” said Assistant Chief Mark Reshaur, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. “We are pleased to offer this service in cooperation with Manitoba Public Insurance and St. John’s Ambulance.”
“This safety-focused initiative is a very important service offered by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service,” said Ward Keith, vice-president of Business Development & Communications and chief product officer, Manitoba Public Insurance. “An improperly installed child car seat compromises the safety of the young child. These free-of-charge inspections ensure the device is properly installed and meets Manitoba’s standards for car seats.”
Program hours are:
- Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Child car seat inspections are available at the following seven Fire Paramedic Stations:
- Station #5, 845 Sargent Avenue
- Station #7,10 Allan Blye Drive
- Station #12, 1780 Taylor Avenue
- Station #20, 525 Banting Steet
- Station #24, 1665 Rothesay Street
- Station #27, 27 Sage Creek Boulevard (NEW)
- Station #23, 880 Dalhousie Drive (NEW)
Background
The child car seat inspection program is a partnership between Manitoba Public Insurance, WFPS and St. John’s Ambulance. The program has been running since approximately 1995. To become a certified child car seat inspection technician, firefighters take a training two-day course.
For more information on the child car seat inspection program, please visit City of Winnipeg - Child Car Seat Inspection Program or contact 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca.