John Platnico is a Security Guard at the Elmendorf Air Force Base Hospital. A conversation with a customer today, went like this:
"Hey, I know you; you inspected our children's car seats last year." John smiled and replied in the affirmative, just another quick conversation, one of hundreds every day.
The customer went on...
"I want to tell you we were in a terrible car accident in which the car rolled and was destroyed. Fortunately we were all OK. The State Trooper who responded said the kids car-seats and particularly their installation definitely saved their lives. I want to thank you for that installation."
John is one of several BSA/LB&B Security Guards that are State Certified Car Seat Inspectors. BSA/LB&B started a program 2 years ago, working with the Alaska State Safe Kids Organization in which we inspect car seats free of charge for the Hospital's customers. If we find a car seat that is unsafe we replace it, free. We get the car seats from the State Safe Kids Program. In some cases of need, like low ranking Airmen, we provide new car seats free of charge. We try to insure we inspect the car seat for every new born leaving the Hospital. LB&B does not charge the customer for this service and it is not in our contract. So far, the company has perhaps spent $3500 on the training and certification of the Guards.
Today we were repaid...
33 New CPS Technicians Certified for Anchorage Fire Dept.
Thirty-three Anchorage Fire Department Cadets successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's certification training to serve as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The training took place December 26th through the 28th, with public car seat checks on both the following Saturday and Sunday. Anchorage will be well served and protected by this very capable group.
The course was coordinated by Alaska Safe Kids and the Anchorage Fire Department. Instructors included Senior Capt. Clinton Powell, Firefighter/EMT Shawn O'Donnell, and Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Wallace, Sara Penisten, Gordon Glaser, Beth Schuerman, and Gwendolynne Brosh, with assistance from Peggy Hayashi, Terriann Shell, and Firefighter/Engineer Travis Reier.