Child Passenger Safety

The Trophy Club Fire Department’s wants to ensure that all children in our community are riding safely. Please complete the Child Safety Seat Installation Request Form to schedule an appointment to have one of our specially trained firefighters inspect or install you child’s car seats in an approved manner. Only certain members of the department are certified to conduct these installations, so completing this online form will help us make sure one is available before stopping by the fire station. 

Child Safety Seat Installation Request Form

Car Seat Safety Tips

The best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use the right seat in the right way.  Here are some car safety tips to protect your most precious cargo.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 10.
• Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
• Children younger than 8 years of age are required to ride in a child restraint (car seat or booster) unless they are over 4’9” tall.
• 4 out of 5 seats are NOT properly installed.

When to Change Your Child's Car Seat

1. Don’t be in a rush. Use your current car seat until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit listed on the label. Don’t be in a hurry, because every step forward reduces safety just a bit. Why? If you are in a front-end crash (the most common type of crash) a rear-facing car seat allows your child’s head, neck and spine to move evenly into the seat, not away from it. Each seat is designed for maximum safety at a specific weight, height and age.
2. Rear-facing car seats. Ride rear-facing until your child is at least 2 years old. As your child grows you might have to switch from using a smaller rear-facing-only car seat to using a bigger rear-facing convertible car seat that can hold a larger child. 
3. Forward-facing car seats. After your child reaches the weight limit for rear-facing, you will then turn the convertible seat forward-facing, or use a forward-facing only car seat with a 5-point harness and top tether. Your child may need a forward-facing car seat with a harness that has a higher weight or height limit before moving to a booster seat. 
4. Booster seats. After your child gets too big for the weight or height limits of the forward-facing car seat, use a belt-positioning booster seat with the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt.

Other Resources for Car Safety

Ultimate Car Seat Guide

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a great resource for vehicle-related child safety, as well as other traffic safety information.