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Crossing Rivers Health Car Seat Program

By Samantha Martin, MSW, CAPSW, CPST

National Child Passenger Safety Month is observed each September, with Child Passenger Safety Week taking place September 21–27. These initiatives promote the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts to help prevent injuries and fatalities among children. Crossing Rivers Health has staff who are Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST). These technicians are up-to-date with the latest information, including laws, products, and recommendations. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or other caregiver, their goal is to help you “Protect Your Precious Cargo”.

Who are we:

We are a team of healthcare professionals—including a Social Worker, Registered Nurses, and a Certified Medical Assistant—who are also parents. We understand the importance of child passenger safety and want to ensure your child’s car seat is installed correctly. Just as important, we’ll help you feel confident uninstalling and reinstalling the seat on your own.

To make it easy for you, we offer convenient appointment times. Each personalized session is free of charge and typically takes 20–30 minutes, depending on the seat and vehicle.

When to schedule:

  1. During pregnancy
  2. When you have a child visiting (aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend, or anyone else who may not often have a child in the vehicle with them)
  3. After a child is born
  4. During a well-child check
  5. When a child has met the weight and/or height requirement of the car seat
  6. Or any other time you feel you would need assistance to ensure proper usage

What to expect from a car seat check:

We will check your car seat for missing labels, malfunctions, or recalls. Bring your child(ren), if possible, to the appointment, and we will ensure that they meet the height and weight requirements for their seat. We will also verify proper installation in your vehicle, assist with registering your seat for recalls, and provide helpful brochures. Our goal is to help you leave feeling confident in safely securing your child every time you use the seat.

Common mistakes:

  • Harness installation is loose (all car seats)
  • Recline angle is incorrect (rear-facing seats)
  • Harness positioned behind arms, legs, or back (forward-facing seats)
  • Improper shoulder belt positioning (booster seats)
  • Lap belt positioning was improper (booster seats)

Statistics

  • Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. (Source: NHTSA)
  • In 2021, 36% of children who died in crashes (ages 0-12) were not buckled up. (Source: CDC)
  • Among child passengers, the highest number of fatalities in 2022 was in the 8-12 age group, often due to improper restraints. (Source: Traffic Safety Marketing, NHTSA)
  • A 2022 study found that 344 children ages 4-10 died in vehicle crashes; nearly 40% were not properly restrained. (Source: Safe Kids Worldwide)

How to schedule a car seat check: Schedule your personalized car seat check by calling (608) 357-2411 or online at https://www.crossingrivers.org/carseatsafety