An Intro to Safely Transporting Native Children Bridget
An Intro to Safely Transporting Native Children Bridget Canniff & Luella Azule NPAIHB Injury Prevention Program
Why SNAP? • Low AI/AN restraint use • Crashes can happen at any time • Can help prevent injuries • Can make a difference
SNAP ≠ certification training • Today’s presentation: introduction to SNAP • Even with full SNAP course, you will NOT be able to: • Serve as a technical expert • Teach SNAP • Only certified CPS technicians can teach SNAP course
Guiding Principles Learn Practice Explain
Best Practices & Tough Choices • Best practices • Explain best practice options • Tough Choices • Sometimes, no clear answers • Give options • Vehicles not designed for child restraints • Safer choices Tough choices should always be made by the parent/caregiver
The Cradleboard Important part of Native culture • Fine for general use • Always use child safety seat for transporting children •
Car Seat Recommendations NHTSA • Keep children in appropriate restraint as long as possible before moving them up to the next type American Academy of Pediatrics • Keep kids in rear-facing restraints until age 2 or highest weight/height allowed by seat manufacturer
Car Seat Recommendations • Read child seat manufacturers' instructions & vehicle owner's manual • Important info on height & weight limits, how to install using seat belt or LATCH system • All children under 13 should ride in back seat • Children in rear-facing car seats should never ride in front of active passenger airbag
Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries • Leading cause of death for American Indians & Alaska Natives • More children ages 1 -16 die from crashes than any other cause
Challenges to Crash Survival • Non-use • Misuse • Use decreases as children get older • Outdated or incorrect educational materials
Why Restrain Children? • • • Larger heads Smaller bodies Soft skull bones Rounded hip bones Weak stomach muscles Vehicles built for adults
How Restraints Prevent Injury • Keep people in the vehicle • Hold where body is strongest • Spread out crash forces • Help body to slow down • Protect head & spine
You Can’t Survive Every Crash • Some crashes too violent to survive • Many factors determine outcome • Restraints & airbags give best chance of survival
Common Myths “I’m not driving very far” “It’s better to be thrown clear” “I can hold my baby in a crash” “Restraints are uncomfortable” “I’m a good driver, so I won’t get into a crash”
Seat Belt & Child Safety Seat Laws • 33 states have primary seatbelt laws, 16 have secondary laws • All 50 states have child restraint laws • Some Reservations have their own Passenger Transportation Safety laws
Local Laws: Seat Belts What’s the seat belt law in your tribal community? A) Tribal law: primary B) Tribal law: secondary C) Community follows state law D) No law E) Unsure / Don’t Know
Local Laws: Child Safety Seats Does your tribal community have a child safety seat law? A) Yes: tribal law B) No: follows state law C) Unsure / Don’t Know
Why Use Restraints? • Studies show restraints reduce: § Injury severity by 60% § Hospital admissions by 69% § Treatment costs by 66% • Use seatbelts! • Use child restraints! • You could save lives!
Types of Child Restraints • • • Infant (rear-facing only) Convertible (rear-facing & forwardfacing) Forward-facing only (harness & combination) Boosters (belt-positioning) Special needs restraints Seat belts
What’s the Best Child Restraint? • Fits the child • Fits the vehicle • Used correctly every time
Elements of Correct Installation • Selection: right seat? • Direction: front or rear-facing? • Location: where is the child safest? • Installation: right belt path/LATCH?
Installation Check List Select correct child seat for weight & height Place in back seat of vehicle Use only one method to install car seat Install car seat Tighten vehicle belt or lower anchor attachment (LATCH) • Buckle child into car seat • • •
LATCH System • Easy install • Vehicles since 2000 • Read the vehicle & CR manuals
Post 2/27/14 LATCH • After February 2014, car seats installed with LATCH should have MAXIMUM combined weight limit of seat + child = 65 lbs • Requirement only apply to lower anchors, doesn’t include top tethers • Belt positioning booster seats using LATCH are not included in the new requirements because: • The seat belt is what is restraining child in booster • LATCH only keeps seat in place when unoccupied, to protect other passengers
Seat Belt Components Anchor Webbing Latchplate Buckle Retractors
Airbag Systems Reduce injury • For use with seatbelts • Children <13 in back seat • Turn OFF airbag if CR must be used in front seat •
Consider These CR Issues • Safety § § Label Expiration History Recall • Compatibility • Convenience • Comfort
Important! • Read instruction book & vehicle owner’s manual for proper installation instructions • Mail in seat registration card
Seat Parts & Functions Shell/ frame Retainer clip Harness straps Buckle Harness slots Belt path Harness adjuster
Seat Parts & Functions Harness slots Harness adjuster plate Labels
Rear-Facing Seats Best Practice: Until 2+ years OR • Until upper limit of CR’s height & weight recommendations • • 3 -point or 5 -point harness at or below shoulder
Why Rear-Facing Until Age 2? • Large, heavy heads • Small, flexible shoulders • Bones not fully developed
Rear-Facing Convertible Rear-facing up to 30 pounds or more, then forward-facing • Reclined position • Harness at or below shoulder level •
Forward-Facing Seats • 2+ years or when child reaches height & weight limits of rear-facing seat • Weight limits between 22 -85+ pounds, depending on manufacturer • Use until child’s ears reach top of seat
Belt Positioning Boosters • Use with lap/ shoulder belt only • Head restraint needed • Shoulder belt positioners • Use the 5 Step Test
The 5 -Step Test 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Child against the vehicle seat? Knees bend at the edge? Belt crosses shoulder between neck & arm? Lap belt low across hips? Child can stay seated for whole trip? If No to any Booster seat is needed If Yes to all Ready for adult seat belt
Reasons for Incorrect Installation • • • Don’t understand dangers Don’t take time Instructions missing Don’t read instructions Restraints don’t fit vehicle
Misuse: Child Safety Seats
Misuse: Child Safety Seats • Retainer clip not at armpit level • Loose harness • Twisted harness or frayed/damaged webbing • Restraint has been in a crash • In seat belt too soon
Misuse: Seat Belts
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm Shoulder belt behind back
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm Shoulder belt behind back Lap belt too high Belt too loose
Wrap-Up: What We’ve Learned • Low restraint use in AI/AN communities • Everyone should buckle up • Selection, direction, location & installation important • Best CR fits child, fits vehicle, used correctly every time • Learn correct use, recognize misuse • Practice = confidence
Additional Resources • www. nhtsa. gov • www. safekids. org • www. nsc. org • www. carseat. org
Luella Azule (Yakima Nation/Umatilla) Injury Prevention Coordinator lazule@npaihb. org 503 -416 -3263 QUESTIONS? THANK YOU!
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