Community Risk Reduction Week: 2021

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is joining safety professionals from across the nation to promote Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week and share the proactive work being done in the community.

What is CRR? CRR is a data-driven process that identifies and prioritizes fire and life safety risks and then strategically invests and directs resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. The goal of CRR is to build healthy, safe and resilient communities by educating people about the important actions they can take to keep themselves and their families safe and prepared ---  before an emergency occurs. The purpose of CRR is to protect the lives and property of residents by “getting ahead of the call” and preventing or putting mitigation strategies in place before emergencies occur (like smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers). The process of CRR allows for fire departments to identify the unique risks and needs of each community. Those needs are then met through the implementation of the 5 E’s; Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Economic Incentive. (Our CRR Team likes to add a sixth "E"--- ENTHUSIASM)! These strategies are driven by data-informed processes that help identify and prioritize risk. 

Throughout CRR Week, we will be focused on each of these key areas and also the great work being done with our community partners. Keep an eye on our social media channels and don't hesitate to reach out if we can assist you (virtually). Now -- meet the MCFRS Community Risk Reduction team!

                   

               Beth Anne Nesselt

                                                                                                    Oscar Mendez 

                      Anthony Ramirez 

                                                     Jim Resnick (and Sparky)  

Winter Car Seat Safety Tips

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Wearing bulky clothes or winter coats can prevent a snug fit of the harness. You might think your child is securely snug in the seat when in fact the harness is not tight because there is so much air in the jacket. As a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. 

In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat.

These tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will help parents strike that perfect balance between keeping little ones warm as well as safely buckled in their car seats.

How to Keep Your Child Warm and Safe in the Car Seat:

(Note: The tips below are appropriate for all ages.)

• Store the carrier portion of infant seats inside the house when not in use. Keeping the seat at room temperature will reduce the loss of the child's body heat in the car.
• Dress your child in thin layers. Start with close-fitting layers on the bottom, like tights, leggings, and long-sleeved bodysuits. Then add pants and a warmer top, like a sweater or thermal-knit shirt. Your child can wear a thin fleece jacket over the top. In very cold weather, long underwear is also a warm and safe layering option. As a general rule of thumb, infants should wear one more layer than adults. If you have a hat and a coat on, your infant will probably need a hat, coat, and blanket.
• Don't forget hats, mittens, and socks or booties. These help keep kids warm without interfering with car seat straps. If your child is a thumb sucker, consider half-gloves with open fingers or keep an extra pair or two of mittens handy — once they get wet, they'll make your child colder rather than warmer.
• Tighten the straps of the car seat harness. Even if your child looks snuggly bundled up in the car seat, multiple layers may make it difficult to tighten the harness enough. If you can pinch the straps of the car seat harness, then it needs to be tightened to fit snugly against your child's chest.  
• Use a coat or blanket over the straps. You can add a blanket over the top of the harness straps or put your child's winter coat on backwards (over the buckled harness straps) after he or she is buckled up. Keep in mind that the top layer should be removable, so your baby doesn't get too hot after the car warms up.
• Use a car seat cover ONLY if it does not have a layer under the baby. Nothing should ever go underneath your child's body or between her body and the harness straps. Be sure to leave baby's face uncovered to avoid trapped air and re-breathing. Many retailers carry car seat bundling products that are not safe to use in a car seat. Just because it's on the shelf at the store does not mean it is safe!
• Remember, if the item did not come with the car seat, it has not been crash-tested and may interfere with the protection provided in a crash. Never use sleeping bag inserts or other stroller accessories in the car seat.
• Pack an emergency bag for your car. Keep extra blankets, dry clothing, hats and gloves, and non-perishable snacks in your car in case of an on-road emergency or your child gets wet on a winter outing.

To schedule a video car seat assistance appointment and to view a list of car seat resources, visit us online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcsafe or

email us at fire.carseatsafetyprogram@montgomerycountymd.gov