By EMS1 Staff
AUSTIN — Providers at Austin-Travis County EMS will travel to neighborhoods in a new mobile unit designed to teach child passenger safety.
The Buckle Up for Life Safety Lab is the centerpiece of a program launched by Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) through the Buckle Up for Life grant from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and Toyota.
The unit and its crew will provide families with video-based training, hands-on practice, one-on-one instruction and education on Texas’ child passenger safety laws.
The team will also perform car seat checks to ensure seats are installed correctly and provide free car seats to families in need.
“We know that a properly installed car seat can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a crash,” said CCHMC program manager Corazon Eaton. “That’s why initiatives like the Buckle Up for Life Safety Lab are so important. We want every family to be empowered with the education and resources they need to help keep their children safe.”
The safety lab will travel across nine Central Texas counties, and be attended by both EMS professionals and certified multilingual child passenger experts.
“At Austin-Travis County EMS, we are always looking for innovative ways to reach community members, especially those in underserved communities who may not have the flexibility to attend classes outside of their neighborhoods,” said EMS Captain Randy Chhabra. “It allows us to meet families where they are and deliver critical education and resources to help children stay safe.”