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We’ve stocked our social media library with free assets to help you connect with parents and caregivers in your community:
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Did you know that vehicle seat belts are made for adults and will not fit children correctly until they are approximately 4’9” tall? Incorrectly fitting seat belts can increase injury risk during a crash. This is why it is important to keep children in booster seats until they are 4’9” and can maintain their position for the duration of their trip.
Boosters are for school-aged kids! Your vehicle seat belt is designed for an adult rider, and the booster seat helps a school-aged kid use the seat belt safely and correctly. Get more booster and car seat help: https://bit.ly/4agjokI
Car seats and booster seats are not all the same. Some are light weight, others heavier and there are many models to choose from. NHTSA’s 5-Star Ease-of-Use Ratings allow caregivers to compare certain features to make informed decisions when selecting a car seat or booster seat: https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/car-seat-ease-use-ratings
Q: How do booster seats protect children? A:
Get more car seat information and safety tips: https://www.cpsboard.org/car-seat-safety/
For more information about car seat and booster seat safety, please visit https://www.cpsboard.org/car-seat-safety/
Do you need CEUs for recertification? Visit the Child Passenger Safety Learning Portal. You’ll find more than 40 CEU offerings: https://carseateducation.org/
Transporting preschool aged children or children who have special transportation needs? Will you be working with a new team this school year? Get everyone up to speed with free online learning modules. You’ll find them in the Child Passenger Safety Learning Portal: https://bit.ly/493SCv9
TECHS: Community Education is one of the requirements for recertification. Learn how to improve your communication skills and satisfy your recert requirements. Login today at https://carseateducation.org/
Attention Child Passenger Safety Technicians! For FREE online courses, including courses that can be used toward completion of the CPST Community Education requirement, check out https://carseateducation.org/
Car Seat Basics for Law Enforcement is designed to equip officers with the knowledge to take an active role in assessing car seat use according to evidence-based best practices. Free national training. Learn more https://www.cpsboard.org/trainings/
SEAT CHECKED? It’s only the safest car seat when it’s installed and used correctly. What’s worst that could happen? You get a pat on the back and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is safe while you travel. Schedule a virtual car seat check with a Child Passenger Safety Technician today: https://carseateducation.org/caregiver-resources
Q: When should you move your child from a rear-facing to forward-facing car seat? A: When the child uses a rear-facing car seat until reaching the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
Get more care seat information and safety tips: https://www.cpsboard.org/car-seat-safety/
Have you heard of the pinch test? Don’t let the name confuse you. The pinch test helps you keep your child safe in a car seat. The car seat harness should be snug against the child. If you can pinch a horizontal fold in the webbing at your child’s shoulders, the harness is still too loose.
Show Some Love
Properly secure those huggable kiddos in the right seat at the right time and use the seat the right way! Learn more: https://www.cpsboard.org/car-seat-safety/
#PopQuiz: Do you know about the Pinch Test? With the harness buckled and tightened and chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the harness strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any extra webbing, you’re good to go. Get more tips and free resources in the Ultimate Car Seat Guide: http://www.ultimatecarseatguide.org
Every vehicle recall is serious and affects your safety. Millions of vehicle recalls go unrepaired or unaddressed every year. If you have an open recall, get your vehicle repaired for FREE. Find out if your vehicle has an open recall: https://checktoprotect.org/
Tips for Techs: While checking for car seat recalls, teach caregivers to check for vehicle safety recalls – something that can be done at anytime, anywhere. Learn more: https://bit.ly/37UBnRR
There are three common ways children end up in hot cars. Provide education and help us raise awareness to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke tragedies. Learn more: https://www.cpsboard.org/heatstroke…/how-tragedies-happen/
Since 1998, more than 960 children have died of vehicular heatstroke. It’s important for everyone to understand that children are more vulnerable to heatstroke and that all hot car deaths are preventable. Educate yourself and everyone you know: https://carseateducation.org/general-education
In cases where a caregiver unknowingly leaves his or her child in a vehicle, often a distraction such as a call from work, stress or a change from the normal routine triggers the driver into ‘auto-pilot’ mode. Put the phone away, place an item related to the child in the front seat, and set reminders that will help you reach your child’s destination. Learn more/share free safety resources: https://www.cpsboard.org/heatstroke-prevention/
25% of children who died of heatstroke in 2023 gained access to an unlocked vehicle. Often young children can get into a vehicle but are unable to get out. Lock your vehicle doors, even if you don’t have children in your care. You never know who might find their way inside. Learn more: https://carseateducation.org/general-education
Learn how to use the National Digital Car Seat Check Form. Download car seat check data in a format that reduces reporting burdens, allows for monitoring trends and tracking car seat distributions. Reserve your spot in a free online orientation: https://www.cpsboard.org/webinars/
No internet connection needed! Track your car seat activity in real time. Identify misuses in your community. Maintain access to all your previous checks. Still want to use a paper form? Enter the data to the digital form when you are finished. Data is stored on a HIPAA compliant server. Learn more: https://www.cpsboard.org/ndcf/
Get answers to National Digital Car Seat Check Form FAQs: https://bit.ly/3HKfbrk
What’s that old saying? Practice makes perfect! Well, that saying applies to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form and all new users. Practice as much as you’d like before heading out to your next seat check event. Create a free account: carseatcheckform.org
Most children will outgrow their infant seats by height long before they reach the weight limit. If the top of a child’s head is within one inch of the top of the shell of the seat, it’s time to transition.
DYK: When a child is properly restrained rear-facing, the head and neck move together with the car seat, allowing forces in a crash to be spread across the shell of the car seat. This protects the child’s head, neck and torso and reduces the risk of neck and spine injuries.
Get more car seat information and safety tips: https://www.cpsboard.org/car-seat-safety/
Make sure your child is in an appropriate car seat. Check the car seat instruction manual or car seat labels for the manufacturer’s recommended age, weight and height use requirements. Learn more: https://bit.ly/33Rrumg
Don’t fall for this common car seat myth. If your child’s legs extend over the car seat in the rear-facing position, not to worry—this is not a safety hazard. There is no data to support the myth that a child’s legs are more susceptible to injury in a crash when rear-facing.
The truth is children within the weight and height limit of their seat in rear-facing mode are safer riding this way, because their head, neck and spinal cord are better protected.
Safety Connection is here to assist you in helping families in your community. If you live in an area that is lacking in CPST assistance or know of a family that needs a Spanish-speaking Technician, refer caregivers to schedule online appointments with one of our CPSTs. We have Spanish and English-speaking CPSTs on staff to help. Find out more: https://www.safety-connection.org/caregiver/
Have you checked out the Safety Connection Virtual Resource Center? It is packed with information to help all families. Parents and caregivers can schedule online car seat checks and access free resources in Spanish: https://www.safety-connection.org/
¿Dónde puede obtener ayuda para instalar su asiento de seguridad o asiento elevado? Safety Connection puede ayudarte. Programe una cita en línea con uno de nuestros técnicos. Aprenda a instalar el asiento de seguridad o el asiento elevador de su hijo y manténgalos seguros cuando conduzca. Visita: https://www.safety-connection.org/spanish/
Have you heard about the Safety Connection Suite of Services? It is your one-stop resource for child passenger safety. We have partnered with national CPS programs to provide a virtual resource center designed to help CPSTs in the field. Caregivers from all walks of life can find education and one-on-one child passenger safety assistance. For state program coordinators, Safety Connection On the GO! is here to support your training and program goals. Learn more: https://www.safety-connection.org/technician/onthego/
When caregivers cannot access an in-person car seat check or need a Spanish-speaking CPST, Safety Connection Virtual Services can help you bridge that gap. With self-scheduled appointments and availability across all time zones, we can make that safety connection. Learn more: https://www.safety-connection.org/caregiver/
To develop a partnership with your state program, contact us at [email protected]?subject=Virtual Services
Calling all caregivers! Check out Safety Connection Virtual Services! Find free online learning for car seat use, locate in-person services in your community or self-schedule a one-on-one virtual car seat check with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. We have information and services available for all families. Learn more: https://www.safety-connection.org/caregiver/safety/
Children start watching us and picking up on our driving habits the moment they turn forward-facing. We need to teach kids how to be good passengers, always buckling up and speaking up when we see something that jeopardizes our safety.
Want some resources for expectant parents? Check out this flyer about the importance of buckling up while pregnant: https://bit.ly/3EzGNzt
Don’t underestimate the importance to buckling up. Make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up, every seat, every trip. #BuckleUp
Before putting your vehicle in gear, make sure you and your passengers are buckled up. Seat belts save lives. #BuckleUp
Lead by example: buckle up, put the phone away and be an attentive driver. Be the driver you want your child to be. Get info/safety tips: https://www.nsc.org/road/resources/dih/driveithome
Download and share a free resource from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Help educate parents and caregivers on the proper use of a car seat tether. Learn more: https://bit.ly/37UBnRR
We know that the tether reduces forward head movement by 4-6 inches in a crash. But do you know where to find your tether? You can schedule a free virtual car seat appointment with Child Passenger Safety Technician here: https://carseateducation.org/caregiver-resources
Did you know your forward-facing car seat should be installed with the tether? Child Passenger Safety Technicians can help you learn how and show you how to correctly install and use your seat. Learn more: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat