The Surprise Fire-Medical Department has been able to utilize more than $30,000 in grant funding provided by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety toward two driving safety initiatives.

The first grant of $15,000 has allowed SFMD to create a public service announcement to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted or impaired driving. This 30-second PSA will be shown at the two local movie theaters, Fat Cats-Surprise and AMC Surprise Pointe 14, from this month through September 2024.

A second grant of $18,400 was also awarded to the department to help improve the proper and consistent use of child safety seats. The funding helps to provide 160 car seats for community members in need. It also allows SFMD, along with the Surprise Police Department, to offer free inspections and education for infant/child car seats and booster seats to the public three times a month.

Child Safety seat inspections are offered from 9 to 10:45 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday and third Saturday of each month at Fire Station 303, 15440 N. Cotton Lane.