NOGALES, Mexico — Over the past three years, the Phoenix and Rio Rico fire departments have collected more than 1,500 used car seats and donated them across the border.
AZ Central reported that vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for adults, teens and children younger than 14 in Mexico. The per capita vehicle death rate last year was double that of the United States.
The law in Mexico only requires children aged five and younger to use child car seats. They allow children as young as age six to ride in the front seat without a child or booster seat.
Firefighters in Nogales say the child-restraint laws don’t make a difference.
“We try to inform people that it’s important, but the police don’t enforce it,” said Lt. Victor Garay, with the Nogales Volunteer Fire Department.
The real obstacle, according to firefighters, seems to be the lack of awareness.
The volunteer fire department is trying to change that with the help of fire departments in Arizona. Five Mexican firefighters have completed training in Arizona as car seat technicians, with the help of the Rio Rico (Ariz.) Fire Department. They have brought seats to communities to help alleviate the problem.
“A lot of people show up and don’t even have seat belts on,” Lt. Eduardo Canzales, one of the trained technicians, said. “We’re trying to build a culture of prevention. In our department we’ve all signed a promise — we’re the first fire department in Sonora to have all our children in car seats.”
Firefighters are preparing for a safety fair in November, at which they hope to install as many as 500 child car seats in one day.