By Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
On December 11, the Safe Kids Washington and Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program announced this year’s recipients of the 2020 Child Injury Prevention Awards. Stacey McShane of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, received the 2020 Outstanding Child Passenger Safety Technician award.
McShane serves as a Target Zero Manager in Snohomish County, helping coordinate local traffic safety efforts. Becoming a car seat technician is not necessarily part of the job description, but McShane volunteered to take that on.
Each year, the WA State Department of Health honors individuals, and organizations for their outstanding work in keeping children safe from injury. Each year nearly 3,000 Washington children age 0-19 are seriously injured or die due to preventable injuries.
“I got involved in traffic safety after a family member was killed by a DUI driver,” Stacey says. “I later became interested in child passenger safety after hearing how often child car seats are improperly installed. I realized that our littlest citizens needed advocates in traffic safety to help their parents make the best decisions for their safety.”
Sometimes safety requires a little extra helping hand. For example, when McShane inspected an installation for a car seat for two expectant parents, she quickly discovered the seat was used – and damaged. It would not protect the couple’s child. Having purchased a used seat to save money, the couple didn’t know what to do. McShane reached out to the law enforcement team in Snohomish County, and word spread. Donations poured in, and from the money raised, the couple was able to purchase a new car seat to protect their baby.
McShane was one of nine honorees, which also included the following for their outstanding performance:
- Amara, Tacoma, Injury prevention partner
- Ranch and Home, Kennewick, Injury Prevention Partner
- Rachel Whitney, Safe Kids Benton-Franklin Counties, Injury Prevention Advocate
- Erica Littlewood, Whatcom-Skagit Counties, Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Instructor
- Briana Glover, Everett, Child Passenger Safety Technician
- Lynnwood Police Department, Child Passenger Safety Team
- Kathy Kruger-Safety Restraint Coalition, Special Achievement Award
- Shawneri Guzman, Snohomish County, Safe Kids Coordinator
“We are so grateful for all the incredible work Stacey does each day to keep our Snohomish County kids and families safe,” said Sheriff Adam Fortney. “I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving to receive this award. Her determination and passion for traffic safety is helping save lives in Snohomish County.”
