Sterling firefighter: Identification sticker could save a child’s life

STERLING — Sterling firefighter Jeff Kimpel wants your child to have a sticker that could help save their life.

Kimpel is the child passenger safety technician for the Sterling Fire Department. He said the Children Have An iDentity (CHAD) safety seat identification program provides first responders with critical information that could make the difference in saving a child’s life during a vehicle crash.

The CHAD program began in 1992 as a result of a car crash involving 13-month-old Chad Bodine, whose babysitter was driving and was instantly killed, leaving emergency personnel unable to identify the injured child.

“Fortunately, for Chad, his aunt was a nurse at the hospital, recognized him, and he was able to get the care that he needed,” Kimpel said. “But that is an extraordinary circumstance that’s not going to happen for most people. So, the family came up with these stickers that you fill out with all the pertinent information that you’d want the first responders, the hospital or the doctor to know so there’s no lapse in care for your child.”

Kimpel said he is pushing hard to get a CHAD sticker on every car seat in the community, especially since a similar incident happened in Sterling only a few years ago.

“I was on a call in November of 2021 when one of the ER nurses got a hold of us about a child who was a Jane Doe,” Kimpel said. “She had been in the hospital for a few hours before they could figure out who she was. Fortunately, she didn’t have severe injuries, but the incidents that created this program have happened in our community. So, I want to push these stickers so if that was to happen to you or me or the guy next to us, we can try to get care to your child as quickly as possible.”

Caregivers can fill out CHAD stickers with their contact information and the child’s name, birthdate, address, allergies, and physician’s information, which can be attached to the back of a child safety seat, bicycle or helmet.

As the SFD’s car seat technician, Kimpel completed a 40-hour certification course that enables him to conduct free car seat safety inspections and instruct parents on how to correctly install their child’s car seat. He decided to complete the certification after realizing he did not know how to properly install his first child’s car seat.

“When I’m installing those car seats, I’m also teaching you all these little tips and tricks of how to do it correctly,” Kimpel said. “I know how I felt when I didn’t know how to properly restrain my daughter, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way.”

Kimpel also inspects the car seats for any cracks, physical deformities and expiration dates.

“Yes, there are expiration dates for car seats,” Kimpel said. “Sometimes you see those car seats that have been passed down for a few generations and as the plastic gets older and more brittle it increases the chances the whole shell could snap in an accident.”

Kimpel provides car seat inspections and education for caregivers at Sterling Fire’s Station One, 110 W. Fifth St., where they can also pick up a CHAD sticker.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Kimpel, call 815-626-0154.