​United Way announces Child Passenger Safety Technician training course in Kincardine

The United Way of Bruce Grey has announced a Child Passenger Safety Technician training course wil be held in Kincardine Oct. 1-4. This comprehensive program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure the safety of child passengers on the roadways.

Held at Knox Presbyterian Church, 345 Durham Street, Kincardine, the training sessions will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The course culminates in a hands-on car-seat clinic, hosted by Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services, on the final day, providing participants with practical experience in real-world scenarios.

Investing in this training course for local fire department personnel, police officers, and agency staff is a proactive and impactful way to increase child safety across the region, states a press release, issued Friday. Motor vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of injury and death among children in Canada, and proper car-seat use significantly reduces the risk. However, studies consistently show that a large percentage of child car seats are installed, or used, incorrectly.

Training front-line responders and community agency staff as certified technicians, builds local capacity to provide expert guidance to families, conduct safety checks, and host community car-seat clinics. These trusted professionals already interact with families in their daily work, making them ideally positioned to deliver this crucial safety education. Funding this training will establish a sustainable, regionally-based network of certified technicians dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable passengers — children.

The technician certification, valid for three years, is issued through the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, hands-on practice, and a multiple-choice knowledge assessment. Participants will receive all necessary course materials, including a textbook and classroom supplies.

Local community champions identified a gap that no one was trained to run a car-seat clinic in the area, and identified this need to the United Way of Bruce Grey.

Thanks to a generous grant from Community Foundation Grey Bruce, funding is available for police, fire, and charitable sector employees. Additionally, four spots are open to private businesses, such as car dealerships, at a cost of $450 per person for the entire course.

"This training is a vital step toward enhancing child passenger safety in our community," said Francesca Dobbyn, executive director of the United Way of Bruce Grey. "By empowering individuals with the proper knowledge and skills, we can make our roads safer for our youngest passengers."

Participants are advised to wear comfortable, casual clothing and appropriate footwear, as the course involves active participation, including climbing in and out of vehicles.

For more information or to register for the course, visit unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/child-passenger-safety-technician-cpst-training-course/ (United Way of Bruce Grey website – registration and information is under “events.”

For questions or more information, contact Dobbyn at execdir@unitedwaybg.com.

For Kincardine-related inquiries, contact Wendy Cox at 519-396-7307.