Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child, held car seat safety inspections on the Seaplane Base to ensure the safety of our next generation, April 1.

The event was put together by the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and the NAS Whidbey Island Fire Department.

Seven child safety seat inspectors participated in the event, two from NAS Whidbey Island, two from Skagit County, and three from Snohomish County.

“I was doing one of my home visits and the family told me they had to go to Mt. Vernon, Wash. to get their car seat checked; I thought that was kind of inconvenient,” said Marcia Bogle, visiting nurse with NMCRS, who coordinated the event.

“I thought I would see what was available on the island. I contacted the fire department, put up flyers, and went online and got in contact with the counties and they volunteered people to me.”

Inspections involved checking for seats that may have been recalled, meeting safety specifications for a child’s height, weight and age, and proper installation.

“The main focus is to make sure children are safer when they leave than when they pulled in. The stats show 80 to 90 percent (of car seats) are used incorrectly, so the goal is to lower those numbers,” said Joni McSpadden, a child passenger safety technician from Skagit County. “(We’re offering) lots of education and teaching parents how to install the seats on their own.”

Parents who got their seats inspected were appreciative of the education and feel it will contribute to the wellbeing of their children.

“I think it’s a really good idea, it’s just another way for parents to get a check on their child seats since a lot of people don’t know or aren’t really sure how to install them,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Edward Sloan, of Fleet Readiness Center Northwest. “It gives them more peace of mind knowing that their child is safe.”

The convenience of being able to get the inspections locally was also valued.

“I’m really happy that I came here, it saved me a trip all the way to Burlington,” said Maria Osborn, of Oak Harbor. “I really would like other people to also use this.”

Participation and support for the event will determine whether this service will continue and expand on the base.

“If we find that there is a good response to this we’re looking at doing it more often and the hospital is looking at getting more people certified,"said Bogle. “It’s something that we can offer, and I think it’s a great thing. Of course the safety of our children is very important and this is the Month of the Military Child, so this fit in very nicely.”