YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2012) – Certified child car seat technicians are now in place in the Northwest Territories.
Eight certified technicians from Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife were trained in car seat installation last week. Graduates applied their new training in a car seat education clinic last Friday afternoon at the Yellowknife Canadian Tire store.
The Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Transportation, welcomed the new technicians. “The bodies of young children are vulnerable, and they need the protection of the right child seat, properly sized and correctly installed,” he said. “These new car seat technicians will be an added resource for parents to ensure children are properly protected.”
The Honourable Tom Beaulieu, Minister of Health and Social Services, applauds the involvement of these community representatives working to improve child safety. “The avoidance of preventable injuries and fatalities starts with communities taking action,” he said. “I am very impressed with the involvement of these trainees and their organizations in helping to prevent injuries to vulnerable children.”
The new technicians come from a variety of occupations. The Hay River trainees were from the local fire department, the Fort Simpson trainees from municipal enforcement, and the Fort Simpson and Yellowknife trainees are from the respective health authorities.
In the new year, car seat education training will be offered to the communities of Norman Wells, Inuvik, and Behchoko, as well as an additional two trainees from Yellowknife. Over time, the training will be offered to residents of other communities as well.
Technicians were trained under the Child Occupant Restraint Education (CORE) program, part of the Injury Prevention component of the Government of Northwest Territories Healthy Choices initiative. CORE partners include the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Transportation. The CORE program provides parents with the information they need to safeguard their pre-teen children while they are passengers in a vehicle. The Healthy Choices Initiative promotes safe and healthy choices that produce well-being and healthy lifestyles.
Helping NWT residents live health lifestyles is one of the ways the GNWT is pursuing the 17th Legislative Assembly’s goal of healthy, educated people. Visit the Healthy Choices website for more information.
For further information, please contact:
Earl Blacklock
Manager of Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Transportation
867-873-7712
867-445-3494 (cell)
earl_blacklock@gov.nt.ca