The Metro West Fire Protection District believes that educating our children in fire and injury prevention is a very high priority. That is why we provide education courses for children and youth from Pre-K through Senior High School.

Injury prevention is another major focus for our organization. Injury prevention is different than education, because instead of providing an educational component in a lecture or interactive classroom format we are focused on a hazard or problem that is impacting our children and directly providing a program that reduces the injuries that are sustained. One example is our program for “Child Passenger Safety”. 

Since the 1990’s our organization has provided assistance for parents, grandparents, and other family members of children traveling in passenger vehicles with the proper installation of their car seats. This program has been incredibly successful and has grown in popularity every year. On average in our Nation 9 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly (NHTSA report). In 2005, the training requirements changed for those who were certified to install and teach people the proper methods to make certain that their seat was in properly. The new certification to be a “Child Passenger Seat Technician” required 32hours of training, complete a 150 question exam, perform a hands on skills test, and complete continuing education training annually to maintain the certification. 

In 2010, the Metro West Fire Protection District Board of Directors approved a new program for injury prevention. The “Bicycle Helmet Safety” program provides fitted helmets for children and youth. These “Metro West Yellow” helmets are outfitted with our branding and logo. The goal is to make certain that everyone riding bicycles is doing their part in preventing head injuries in our community. 

The Metro West Fire Protection District believes that educating our children in fire and injury prevention is a very high priority. That is why we provide education courses for children and youth from Pre-K through Senior High School.

Injury prevention is another major focus for our organization. Injury prevention is different than education, because instead of providing an educational component in a lecture or interactive classroom format we are focused on a hazard or problem that is impacting our children and directly providing a program that reduces the injuries that are sustained. One example is our program for “Child Passenger Safety”. 

Since the 1990’s our organization has provided assistance for parents, grandparents, and other family members of children traveling in passenger vehicles with the proper installation of their car seats. This program has been incredibly successful and has grown in popularity every year. On average in our Nation 9 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly (NHTSA report). In 2005, the training requirements changed for those who were certified to install and teach people the proper methods to make certain that their seat was in properly. The new certification to be a “Child Passenger Seat Technician” required 32hours of training, complete a 150 question exam, perform a hands on skills test, and complete continuing education training annually to maintain the certification. 

In 2010, the Metro West Fire Protection District Board of Directors approved a new program for injury prevention. The “Bicycle Helmet Safety” program provides fitted helmets for children and youth. These “Metro West Yellow” helmets are outfitted with our branding and logo. The goal is to make certain that everyone riding bicycles is doing their part in preventing head injuries in our community.