Child Passenger Safety

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Child Passenger Safety
WHAM
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WHAM

• What risks are observed on scene?
• How can we keep from coming back?
• Action to take to prevent future injuries
• Materials to leave behind

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Child Passenger Safety

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
  death in Washington State and in the US for ages
  1 - 44
• Most people who die in car crashes are
  unrestrained
• A properly selected and installed car seat or
  booster offers the best protection until a child
  is big enough for safety belts

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Washington State Law

• Children under age 8 or less than 49 tall are
  required to be in an appropriate child restraint
  system, according to the car seat and vehicle
  manufacturers instructions.
• Children under 13 shall be transported in the
  back seat where practical to do so.
• The driver is responsible for passengers under
  age 16 being properly secured.

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What risks are observed at the scene?

• You are called to a minor MVA at a grocery store
  parking lot. No one appears to be injured and the
  driver holding a baby asks you about her childs
  car seat. She says she has heard that if a car
  seat is involved in a crash, it needs to be
  replaced and she wants you to check it for her.
  You are not a certified Child Passenger Safety
  Technician.

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How can we keep from coming back?
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Action to taketo prevent further injuries

• Inform parent that you are not a certified car
  seat technician and cannot inspect the seat for
  damage or installation
• Inspections by certified technicians are
  available from several sources (see WHAM folder)
• Suggest parent contact manufacturer of the car
  seat for recommendation or more info
• Share with parents the National Highway
  Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  criteria to determine if a car seat should be
  replaced (see next slide)
• Parent needs to make this decision!

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Do I need to replace my child safety seat after a
crash?

• NHTSA child safety seats should be replaced
  following a moderate or severe crash
• NHTSA child safety seats do not automatically
  need to be replaced following a minor crash
• Minor crashes meet ALL of the following criteria
  
• Vehicle was able to be driven from the crash site
• Vehicle door nearest the safety seat was
  undamaged
• There were no injuries to any of the vehicle
  occupants
• The air bags (if present) did not deploy
• There is no visible damage to the safety seat

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Materials to leave behind

• Utilize WHAM folder on rig
• Safe Kids Basic Car Seat Safety brochure (for
  ESL or low literacy)
• NOTE
• Brochures have sticker with local car seat line
  253-403-1417 or 1-800-BUCKLUP

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Further info on Child Passenger Safety

• Links
• Washington Safety Restraint Coalition
• www.800bucklup.org
• (lists local Certified Child Passenger Safety
  Technicians, Washington State laws, educational
  materials and buyers guide)
• National Highway Transportation Safety
  Administration
• http//www.nhtsa.dot.gov
• (find a local car seat technician, car seat
  ratings, installation tips for parents)

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WHAM developed by Central Pierce Fire
RescueCity of DuPont Fire DepartmentGig Harbor
Fire Medic OneSafe Kids Pierce
CountyTacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.
With funding fromWest Region EMS Trauma Care
Council