BURN STATUS: No Burn Ban In Effect
Staying safe on the road and around water helps ensure that every journey and outdoor adventure ends in happy memories — not emergencies. Whether you’re driving to a destination, exploring local trails, or enjoying lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, a little planning and awareness go a long way.
Travel Safety Tips
Car Seat & Child Safety
Is your child’s car seat installed correctly? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that correctly using car seats and belts reduces fatality risks by 71% for infants under the age of 1 and by 54% for children 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars.
Learn about basic child car seat safety in this 2-minute video by SaferCar – NHTSA: https://youtu.be/u7HV8TnG6wI
Free Car Seat Inspections are available at:
- Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue – scheduled appointments available every 4th Saturday of the month
- North Kitsap Fire 7 Rescue – no appointments required; 2nd Saturday of the month from 10AM – 1PM
- Poulsbo Fire Department – scheduled appointments Monday – Friday from 8AM – 3:30PM
Find other car seat inspection locations in Washington State through the Child Passenger Safety Program website.
You can also call Mary Bridge Children’s Car Seat helpline at 1-253-403-1417 to ask general car seat safety questions or to schedule a virtual car seat check.
Bicycle Safety
Bicycling is an important part of Washington State’s transportation network. In fact, Washington has been recognized as the nation’s top “Bicycle Friendly State” by the League of American Bicyclists for seven consecutive years.
Adults set the example for safe riding. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in teaching children how to ride responsibly, follow traffic rules, and develop good habits on two wheels while wearing a helmet.
Learn more about safe cycling and WA state bicyclist laws on the Washington State Department of Transportation website.
Water Safety Tips
Water Safety Tips
Enjoy Puget Sound safety throughout the year. The Pacific Northwest is home to an abundance of lakes, rivers, and coastal waterways – perfect for swimming, boating, and other water activities. While these waters offer endless opportunities for fun, it’s important to stay safe by following key safety tips for the water, wearing life jackets, supervising children, and being aware of changing conditions that may impact your time in the water.
Life Jacket Loaner Program
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 – 14. Wearing a life jacket helps reduce the risk of drowning by up to 50%. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue has partnered with Kitsap County Parks, Washington State Parks, Kitsap Public Health, Port of Manchester, and Port of Bremerton to supply and stock life jackets near parks with lakes and bodies of waters. Life jackets from the kiosks may be borrowed during your park visit and should be returned after use for others to use.
South Kitsap Kiosk Locations
- Long Lake County Park
- Horseshoe Lake County Park
- Olalla Boat Ramp
- Port Orchard Boat Ramp
- Blake Island State Park
- Manchester Boat Ramp