Child Passenger Safety

Training description

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death and injury among children. Proper car seat use is essential to protecting young passengers and reducing the risk of serious injury or death. However, research has consistently shown that car seat misuse is common, highlighting the need for continued education and support for families.

This training will provide an overview of child passenger safety statistics, introduce the fundamentals of correct car seat selection, installation, and use, and explain when children are ready to transition from one car seat stage to the next. Participants will also learn about resources that connect families with educational materials, car seats, and installation assistance. By increasing awareness and connecting families with appropriate resources, we can help ensure that every child travels as safely as possible on every trip.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand how motor vehicle crashes affect child health and safety, identify common forms of car seat misuse, and recognize the importance of appropriate child restraint use in reducing injury and death.
2. Explain why children should remain rear-facing as long as possible within the car seat’s height and weight limits, and identify when it is appropriate to transition to a forward-facing seat, booster seat, and vehicle seat belt.
3. Demonstrate basic awareness of correct car seat use through proper car seat selection, installation, harness positioning, harness tightness, and the importance of following both the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.
4. Identify trusted sources of child passenger safety information, educational materials, car seats, and car seat installation assistance, including community-based programs for families who need support.