As a parent you want the best for your child's safety. To make sure your child's, child safety restraint system (car seat or booster seat) is the most appropriate for your child, installed and being used properly and in compliance with various child restraint laws along with best practices. Pro Consumer Safety has established guidelines for you as a parent so you can make the best choice in a car seat installation service or company. While many law enforcement and other public agencies provide free car seat installation services, there are many individuals, and companies who have staff, that have become certified through Safe Kids Worldwide that provide various fee-based services. But without any guidance you might not be making the best choice for your needs.
So they are certified, now what? Similarly to other professions where individuals are certified or licensed, the number of years in practice, keeping up on continuing education credits, maintaining peer reviews and membership participation with professional organizations all play a part in measuring how effective that professional can be. Whereas just because a professional is licensed to practice medicine for example, if they are not keeping up with their continuing education credits and maintaining their status, you likely would want them to help treat you. In the child passenger safety profession, individuals become certified as a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) or a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor (CPSTI). However even if they are certified how do you as a parent know who to choose? Pro Consumer Safety has established the following guidelines to help you make the best choice in a car seat installation and education company. |
Guidelines for Parents: Choosing a Car Seat Installation Company
As a parent or caregiver do you want someone who is:
1. Do you want someone who is Certified?
|
YES
|
NO
|
NO
While it is not mandatory to have a certified technician to install your child safety restraint system, this is dangerous, can put your child at risk of severe injury, disability or death because of mistakes made. These mistakes are the reason why 3 out of 4 car seats are not being used or installed properly. Butting children at risk. In addition to the health injury risk violating California child restraint law for not having a child under the age of 15 years being properly restrained will result in 1-point on your driver record, plus the $100 fine with court and local assessment fees begin a total of $475 per child. And if both parents are in the vehicle, they both can be given this violation.
While it is not mandatory to have a certified technician to install your child safety restraint system, this is dangerous, can put your child at risk of severe injury, disability or death because of mistakes made. These mistakes are the reason why 3 out of 4 car seats are not being used or installed properly. Butting children at risk. In addition to the health injury risk violating California child restraint law for not having a child under the age of 15 years being properly restrained will result in 1-point on your driver record, plus the $100 fine with court and local assessment fees begin a total of $475 per child. And if both parents are in the vehicle, they both can be given this violation.
YES
CPS technicians and instructors use their considerable knowledge and expertise at a variety of community-based activities, such as child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance. CPS technicians and instructors also keep up-to-date on the latest technical information about child passenger safety through seminars and other continuing education opportunities.
All CPS technicians must take and pass the CPS Certification Course and pay a course fee of $85. Learn more about the course and read “Frequently Asked Questions” about becoming a tech.
CPS technicians and instructors use their considerable knowledge and expertise at a variety of community-based activities, such as child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance. CPS technicians and instructors also keep up-to-date on the latest technical information about child passenger safety through seminars and other continuing education opportunities.
All CPS technicians must take and pass the CPS Certification Course and pay a course fee of $85. Learn more about the course and read “Frequently Asked Questions” about becoming a tech.
As a parent or caregiver do you want someone who is:
- Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide (at Safercar.gov)
- Do they maintain their CEU's, if so how
- Do they part local or statewide child passenger safety coordinator training or update meetings/teleconferences
- Do they participate in community car seat check-ups
- Do they work with local Safe Kids coalitions, law enforcement or hospitals who have child passenger safety events
- Do they read the instructions of the car seat or booster seat before installing and educating you
- Do they have a lead technician to peer review or run questions by
- Do they have record keeping so get in touch with me in case they learn they make a mistake or of another issue
- Do they install the car seat or booster seat without the child, if so do they use a doll to demonstrate
- Do they have resources for next steps
- Can you call them with future care seat questions
- When you call do they answer? How long does it take to talk with them?
- Do they have material and information on state child restraint law to answer your questions
Do you want:
- Someone who is certified? Y N
- Do you want
prepare report on data driving behavior injury