KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Putting a child into a protective car seat seems like a simple task, but doing it correctly is something most people have to take a class to truly understand.

The Kirksville Fire Department hosted their bi-annual Child Passenger Safety (CPS) class this week, which culminated in the final test Thursday, properly installing the seat.

The car seat technician class is a 32-hour class where students learn about the different kinds of car seats, the types of cars they drive, how to properly install the protective car seats, and how to properly put the child in the car seat.

Students also learn safety regulations regarding where and how to sit children of different ages.

Joe Schilling, CPS Instructor for MoDOT, told KTVO the class hammers in the basics of child vehicular safety for those who attend.

“The big thing we do with this class is we build them [students] a good foundation,” Schilling said. “They’re not an expert when they get done here, but they get an understanding of what they need to look for, where they need to go to get the answer, and we’re all connected.”

Those who complete the class become CPS certified, meaning they can be a resource for parents trying to keep their children safe.

Being a certified CPS technician is listed in the job description of the Kirksville Fire Department.

There is a database of National Child Passenger Safety Certified technicians that can be booked to help parents with their car seats.