National Child Passenger Safety Board

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CPS Class at NSC August 2018-1.jpg

The National Child Passenger Safety Board, managed by the National Safety Council, maintains the quality and integrity of the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program in the United States. [1] The program is used to train and certify child passenger safety technicians and instructors in order to assist caregivers in safe transportation of children. Three of the most common issues that put children at risk: improperly used or installed safety seats, hot cars, and teen drivers. [2] The Board is not limited to keeping kids safe in cars in the U.S. The work of Dr. Marilyn J. Bull to help shape automobile safety law in Chile was highlighted in March 2017 by AAP News. [3]

Contents

Background

Students attend a child passenger safety training class. CPS Class at NSC August 2018.jpg
Students attend a child passenger safety training class.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in children in the United States. [4] In fact, a child under 13 is involved in a crash every 33 seconds. [5] Education and proper use of air bags, car seats, booster seats and seat belts helps save lives and can prevent injuries and deaths on our nation’s roads every day.

Placing children in appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half. [6] All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are at least of two years of age. [7] All 50 states require child seats with specific criteria. Requirements vary based on a child's age, weight and height. [8] In a Health Guide published by the New York Times, parents and caregivers can find answers to questions on rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats. [9] Read the National Safety Council position statement on child restraints, which addresses child passenger safety among multiple modes of transportation. [10]

54% of child heatstroke deaths occur because a caregiver has forgotten a child in a vehicle. [11] In 2017, 42 children died of heatstroke. National Child Passenger Safety Board Secretariat Amy Artuso pointed to distraction as an issue in an article published by CNN. [12] Artuso and San Jose State University's Jan Null are two of the experts consulted in an article published by The Clarion-Ledger. [13] Earlier, Gene Weingarten reported on kids and hot cars in The Washington Post. [14]

Infants and children driven by teen drivers are three times more likely to be injured in a crash than those driven by an adult. [15]

In the United States, Child Passenger Safety Week and National Car Seat Check Saturday are observed every year in September. The purpose of these efforts is to create awareness of car seat safety. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Providing information and car seat safety instructions to parents and caregivers is one way to save lives. [16]

Safe Ride News published a 44-year timeline of child passenger safety advancements, spanning a protest by physicians for automotive safety in 1965 to revisions in school bus seating standards in 2008. [17]

Certification program

Members of the NCPSB work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide. NHTSA has the responsibility to assure the technical accuracy of the curriculum, while Safe Kids CPS Certification is charged with responsibility, authority and liability for the certification and re-certification processes. Board members provide input and perspective from their organizations and to their constituencies on ways to ensure the ongoing significance of the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program in keeping children safe.

History

In the mid-1990s, a small team of child passenger safety professionals was tasked by NHTSA to look at the national state of child passenger safety. The group, the Patterns for Life Team, recommended a standardized national curriculum and a national certification process for technicians. A standardized curriculum was created and AAA became the initial national certifying body. This still left a need for input from those out in the field, and a group of CPS stakeholders, including representatives from national and local organizations, vehicle and car seat manufacturers and injury prevention professionals, was pulled together. The group was formalized and the National Child Passenger Safety Board was created in 1993. The first standardized curriculum was published in 1998. The Board currently oversees the certification curriculum and makes recommendations to both NHTSA and the certifying body, now Safe Kids Worldwide.

Awards

Safe Kids Greater Houston: 2019 Team of the Year CPS Team of the Year 2019.jpg
Safe Kids Greater Houston: 2019 Team of the Year

Each year, the Board recognizes men and women for their contributions to child passenger safety through its Technician, Instructor and Team of the Year awards program.

2019 Award Winners

2018 Award Winners

2017 Award Winners

2016 Award Winners

2015 Award Winners

2014 Award Winners

2013 Award Winners

2012 Award Winners

2011 Award Winners

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seat belt</span> Vehicle safety device to protect against injury during collisions and sudden stop

A seat belt is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a passenger of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. A seat belt reduces the likelihood of death or serious injury in a traffic collision by reducing the force of secondary impacts with interior strike hazards, by keeping occupants positioned correctly for maximum effectiveness of the airbag, and by preventing occupants being ejected from the vehicle in a crash or if the vehicle rolls over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbag</span> Vehicle safety device

An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. The purpose of the airbag is to provide a vehicle occupant with soft cushioning and restraint during a collision. It can reduce injuries between the flailing occupant and the interior of the vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crash test dummy</span> Full-scale anthropomorphic test devices that simulate human bodies in vehicle crash testing

A crash test dummy, or simply dummy, is a full-scale anthropomorphic test device (ATD) that simulates the dimensions, weight proportions and articulation of the human body during a traffic collision. Dummies are used by researchers, automobile and aircraft manufacturers to predict the injuries a person might sustain in a crash. Modern dummies are usually instrumented to record data such as velocity of impact, crushing force, bending, folding, or torque of the body, and deceleration rates during a collision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crash test</span> Form of destructive testing

A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation or related systems and components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive safety</span> Study and practice to minimize the occurrence and consequences of motor vehicle accidents

Automotive safety is the study and practice of design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadway design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road traffic safety</span> Methods and measures for reducing the risk of death and injury on roads

Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Typical road users include pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, vehicle passengers, horse riders, and passengers of on-road public transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Car seat</span>

A car seat is the seat used in automobiles. Most car seats are made from inexpensive but durable material in order to withstand prolonged use. The most common material is polyester.

Seat belt legislation requires the fitting of seat belts to motor vehicles and the wearing of seat belts by motor vehicle occupants to be mandatory. Laws requiring the fitting of seat belts to cars have in some cases been followed by laws mandating their use, with the effect that thousands of deaths on the road have been prevented. Different laws apply in different countries to the wearing of seat belts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced driver-assistance system</span> Electronic systems that help a vehicle driver while driving or parking

An advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) is any of a groups of electronic technologies that assist drivers in driving and parking functions. Through a safe human-machine interface, ADAS increase car and road safety. ADAS uses automated technology, such as sensors and cameras, to detect nearby obstacles or driver errors, and respond accordingly. ADAS can enable various levels of autonomous driving, depending on the features installed in the car.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" related to transportation safety in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</span> U.S. nonprofit organization

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI) is an American nonprofit organization. It was established in 1959, and it is noted for its safety reviews of vehicles in various simulated traffic situations, including the effectiveness of a vehicle's structural integrity and safety systems during a collision, in addition to examining improvement on such elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act</span>

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was enacted in the United States in 1966 to empower the federal government to set and administer new safety standards for motor vehicles and road traffic safety. The Act was the first mandatory federal safety standards for motor vehicles. The Act created the National Highway Safety Bureau. The Act was one of a number of initiatives by the government in response to increasing number of cars and associated fatalities and injuries on the road following a period when the number of people killed on the road had increased 6-fold and the number of vehicles was up 11-fold since 1925. The reduction of the rate of death attributable to motor-vehicle crashes in the United States represents the successful public health response to a great technologic advance of the 20th century—the motorization of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Side collision</span> Vehicle crash where the side of one or more vehicles is impacted

A side collision is a vehicle crash where the side of one or more vehicles is impacted. These crashes typically occur at intersections, in parking lots, and when two vehicles pass on a multi-lane roadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child safety seat</span> Seat designed to protect children during traffic collisions

A child safety seat, sometimes called an infant safety seat, child restraint system, child seat, baby seat, car seat, or a booster seat, is a seat designed specifically to protect children from injury or death during vehicle collisions. Most commonly these seats are purchased and installed by car owners, but car manufacturers may integrate them directly into their vehicle's design and generally are required to provide anchors and ensure seat belt compatibility. Many jurisdictions require children defined by age, weight, and/or height to use a government-approved child safety seat when riding in a vehicle. Child safety seats provide passive restraints and must be properly used to be effective. However, research indicates that many child safety restraints are often not installed or used properly. To tackle this negative trend, health officials and child safety experts produce child safety videos to teach proper car seat installation to parents and caregivers.

Injury prevention is an effort to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety and public health, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries and hence improving quality of life. Among laypersons, the term "accidental injury" is often used. However, "accidental" implies the causes of injuries are random in nature. Researchers prefer the term "unintentional injury" to refer to injuries that are nonvolitional but often preventable. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that unintentional injuries are a significant public health concern: they are by far the leading cause of death from ages 1 through 44. During these years, unintentional injuries account for more deaths than the next three leading causes of death combined. Unintentional injuries also account for the top ten sources of nonfatal emergency room visits for persons up to age 9 and nine of the top ten sources of nonfatal emergency room visits for persons over the age of 9.

Safe Kids Worldwide is a global non-profit organization working to prevent childhood injury through research, community outreach, legislative advocacy and media awareness campaigns. Safe Kids Worldwide has over 400 coalitions in 49 states, and has partners in over 30 countries. The proclaimed mission of Safe Kids Worldwide is "protecting kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death for children in the United States." It is a 501(c) organization.

When a person makes a claim for personal injury damages that have resulted from the presence of a defective automobile or component of an automobile, that person asserts a product liability claim. That claim may be against the automobile's manufacturer, the manufacturer of a component part or system, or both, as well as potentially being raised against companies that distributed, sold or installed the part or system that is alleged to be defective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five-point harness</span> Form of seat belt

A five-point harness is a form of seat belt that contains five straps that are mounted to the car frame. It has been engineered for an increase of safety in the occurrence of an automobile accident. As a result, this form of seat belt has been mandated in the race car competition of NASCAR. This was an invention made mandatory to have due to the high velocities involved in the sport. Along with the design of the seat belt, helmet straps have been designed to increase the safety of the driver. This invention has also been used to secure infants and young children in child safety seats.

The BeSeatSmart Program is a federal grant-based program supported by the Governor's Highway Safety Program, Vermont, and hosted by The Vermont Department of Health. BeSeatSmart provides child passenger safety seats, hands on help, advice, consultations, presentations, training, materials and support to residents of Vermont. BeSeatSmart provides best practice advice as given and sourced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Child Passenger Safety Week is observed the third week of September as part of Baby Safety Month in the United States. The goal of Child Passenger Safety Week is to make sure every child is in the correct child safety seat, that the seats are properly installed and used, and that seats are registered with their manufacturers to ensure parents and caregivers receive important safety updates.

References

  1. ↑ "National Child Passenger Safety Board". National Child Passenger Safety Board. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  2. ↑ "Child Passenger Safety". National Safety Council. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  3. ↑ "AAP News". American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  4. ↑ "Injury Facts". National Safety Council. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  5. ↑ "NSC Child Passenger Restraint Policy". National Safety Council. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  6. ↑ "Child Passenger Safety". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  7. ↑ "Car Seats: Information for Families". American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  8. ↑ "Child Passenger Safety". Governors Highway Safety Association. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  9. ↑ "Child Safety Seats Health Information". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Child Passenger Restraints Position/Policy Statement" (PDF). National Safety Council. July 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  11. ↑ "No Heat Stroke". San Jose State University Department of Meteorology and Climate Science. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  12. ↑ Visser, Steve (2016-06-09). "Deaths in hot cars nearly triple". CNN. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  13. ↑ Fowler, Sarah (2016-05-20). "How can hot-car deaths be prevented?". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  14. ↑ Weingarten, Gene (2009-03-08). "Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime?". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  15. ↑ Chen, I. G.; Elliott, M. R.; Durbin, D. R.; Winston, F. K. (2005-02-01). "Teen drivers and the risk of injury to child passengers in motor vehicle crashes". Injury Prevention. 11 (1): 12–17. doi:10.1136/ip.2004.007617. PMC   1730170 . PMID   15691982.
  16. ↑ "Child Passenger Safety Week". U.S. Department of Transportation. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  17. ↑ Stewart, Deborah D. (February 2009). "More than Forty Years of Progress for Child Passenger Protection: A Chronicle of Child Passenger Safety Advances in the USA, 1965-2009". Safe Ride News. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  18. ↑ "INScope-2019-04-11:: Issues: InScope: Indiana University". inscope.medicine.iu.edu. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  19. ↑ Johansen, Brandon (2018-05-07). "BPD supervisor awarded 2018 Child Passenger Safety Instructor of the Year". 23ABC News. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  20. ↑ WRAL. "He's helped babies for decades: Raleigh child passenger safety technician wins national award :: WRAL.com". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  21. ↑ "The National Child Passenger Safety Board Names North Carolina Injury Prevention Specialist Child Passenger Safety Instructor of the Year" (PDF). cpsboard.org.
  22. ↑ "Car Seat Technician from Cowlitz 2 Wins National Safety Award". The Daily News. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
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