COVINGTON, Ga. - The Covington Fire Department and Police Department - along with first responders, public safety members and healthcare providers - held a car seat check at Legion Field Friday, Aug. 23 as part of their training to become car seat installation technicians.

Missy Braden, first steps coordinator and car seat tech at Piedmont Newton, stated that a four day class was held to become certified car seat installation technicians. The car seat check was the last requirement to become certified. 

"We find about a 70-90% misuse rate among families who think that their seats are installed correctly; yet, they are actually not installed correctly," she said. "We can reduce the risk of injury and death by about 50-70% if the seats are used and installed correctly."

The CFD has implemented a Community Risk Reduction Program, a program to educate the community in ways to reduce injury and death. 

“Anything we can do to get into the community and reduce any problems that can be preventable - crashes are going to occur, people are going to have wrecks - but if the kids that are in these car seats, and the seats are installed correctly and the kids are in these seats correctly, that’s going to reduce the harm to them," CFD Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Joe Doss said.

"This helps keep our kids and our community safe," CPD Sergeant Star Smith said.