An Oak Creek mom seeking help installing the base of her baby’s car seat was disappointed to discover not every first responder in southeast Wisconsin is certified to do the job.
That mother of three, Lisa Yunk, said after visiting six different locations in and around Oak Creek, including police, fire departments, and a health department, she was turned away.
She said she was told either no one was certified to help her install her baby’s car seat, she had to schedule an appointment or she had to be a resident of that particular city.
"For them to constantly turn you away for the safety of your children, it's scary,” Yunk said. Yunk said she drove 45 minutes in bad weather with her baby's seat not completely locked in, until finally a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy agreed to help her out.
The TODAY’S TMJ4 I-team contacted 30 police and fire departments in southeast Wisconsin. Out of all of the people employed at those agencies, only 17 people were certified to install car seats.
Lack of staffing, time and cost of training are reasons police and fire departments gave us when we asked why they don't have more members certified.
In Wisconsin it costs $250 and requires three full days of training to be a Child Passenger Safety Technician. Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin is the non-profit that provides certification.
“I think there was a misconception you could just go to your fire department and everybody was trained, or you could go to any fire department. It actually never has been that way,” said Lisa Klindt Simpson with Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin.
“We are always recruiting and looking for organizations that are willing to help,” she continued.
Click here to see where you can get your car seat installed.
