Firefighters keep kids safe

by Eve Meinhardt
Paraglide




Driving around Fayetteville and Fort Bragg can be difficult. Traffic is heavy; drivers can be inattentive and aggressive; and there is always construction or roadwork happening.

In addition to watching the road and everyone else on it, parents face the additional challenge of keeping their children calm and seated throughout the ride. For a Fort Bragg Family with autistic, twin girls, the task became a little more daunting.

Steven C. Stewart, a lieutenant with Fort Bragg Fire and Emergency Services, said the mom contacted Fire and Emergency Services and said she was at her wits end because her children were unbuckling their car seats and climbing around the vehicle while she was driving.

“Currently, in Cumberland County, Fort Bragg Fire and Emergency Services is the only department with child passenger safety technicians certified to assist with the transportation of children with special needs,” said Stewart.

Stewart is one of the certified technicians; the other is Capt. Steven Fox.

The department recommended E-Z-On vests, an alternative to the conventional child safety seats, which requires special hardware to attach the vest to the vehicle.

Safe Kids of Western Carolina donated the vests but, unfortunately, after numerous attempts, the hardware for the vests was unable to be installed in the particular vehicle the Family owns.
While the vests didn’t work in this particular instance, Stewart is still working with the Family to find a solution that works.

“I’m going to bring my ‘buckle bear’ over and talk to the girls, showing them how to be safe and why it is important to stay seated. Hopefully, that will help. Plus, we are researching other devices that may work for this situation,” he said.

Stewart urges parents requiring assistance transporting children with special needs to call him or Fox at 396-3015.