“I was so happy to know the baby was safe”, says Amber Beavens, unit secretary for Mother/Baby at IU Health Arnett Hospital.
“When my kids were little, we did not think much about car seat safety,” says Beavens on why she volunteered to become a car seat safety technician. “Through my 15 years here, I have learned how important car seat safety truly is. Then I became a grandmother almost two years ago, and it became a passion.”
Six weeks ago, Beavens installed a car seat for a family as they prepared to take their newborn baby home from Arnett Hospital. She provided additional education about car seat safety and proper installation techniques. Last week, that family was t-boned near the back door where the baby was seated. The baby was unharmed because the car seat was installed properly.
“The family may have to get a new car, but their family is intact,” says Selina McNulty, manager of Mother/Baby. “What we do every day made a difference to that family. It is a good reminder of why we do what we do.”
Arnett car seat program reaches milestone
IU Health Arnett has the most successful car seat program in the state of Indiana. On May 31, the IU Health Arnett Permanent Fitting Station completed its 15,000th car seat check since opening on May 1, 2009.
Following the car accident, the family was treated at the Arnett Hospital Emergency department. As is protocol, the Emergency department reached out to the car seat safety technician asking for a replacement car seat so the infant could be sent home safely after being released from care. Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Sometimes it is nice to hear about the difference you make,” says Beavens. “I was just doing my job. I can only imagine the outcome if the car seat was not installed properly.”
Make sure your car seat is installed properly
More than half of car seats are not used or installed correctly according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Ensure you child’s car seat is installed properly. Schedule a car seat fitting appointment with IU Health Arnett Hospital’s Permanent Fitting Station. A Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) will check the car seat installation free of charge.
Parents and caregivers can call IU Health Arnett Childbirth Education department at 765.838.4670 to schedule an appointment.