Mom Credits Palm Harbor Fire Safety Educator With Saving Infant

PALM HARBOR, FL — As Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's fire and safety educator, Elizabeth Graham is frequently sought out to help new parents with the often-confusing process of installing car seats properly. But it's rare that she gets the kind of feedback she recently received from one Palm Harbor mother.

Following the fire department's annual hose-down event for kids, Jameelah Simmons approached Graham to thank her for saving her daughter Kyndle's life five years ago.

Kyndle was just 1-month-old when Simmons was involved in a traffic crash that could have been tragic if the baby hadn't been securely fastened in a car seat.

Simmons said she had been waiting years for the opportunity to thank Graham. She and her husband are convinced that Graham saved their daughter's life that day by ensuring that the car seat she was in was installed properly.

"It's not often that we (fire and life safety educators) receive feedback of a documented save, let alone several years later," said Graham. "It's a great feeling knowing that what we do makes a difference. Our jobs are to help educate and prevent adults and children from becoming injured, and it's extremely difficult to document what we've been able to prevent. But in this case, there's a sweet little girl and two amazing parents who are here and can share the importance of using car seats properly."

Graham said installing a car seat can be complicated, and the instructions aren't always straightforward. As a result, 75 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly.

Graham and fellow certified car seat technicians at Palm Harbor Fire Rescue provide free assistance to parents. On average, the fire department checks 250 to 300 car seats each year.

Car seat checks are done by appointment only by calling the fire department at 727-784-0454.