Tools for Child Passenger Safety Technicians and Advocates in Atlantic Canada
Are you a Child Passenger Safety Technician or someone who supports families in safely transporting their children? Here are some tools you may find helpful.
Training Opportunities
The Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (CPSAC) provides a national, up-to-date Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) training program.
Child Safety Link supports Child Passenger Safety Technician training opportunities throughout the Maritimes. Help parents and caregivers choose and use car seats and booster seats safely.
Register for currently available courses or add your self to the waiting list at this link. Space in these training classes is limited and often reserved for those who work with vulnerable families.
Networking Tools
Newsletter: Sign up for the Car Seat Connection Newsletter for news, events and information for Atlantic Canada from Child Safety Link:
Facebook: Join us at Atlantic Tech Talk to connect with others locally who are supporting child passenger safety in their communities.
Resources for Families
View the Child Passenger Safety resources for families including videos, a postcard, posters and fact sheets for each stage.
- Order print versions of these resources for free within the Atlantic provinces.
- Families with questions can also call our toll-free number at 1-866-288-1388.
Accessible resources
New resources provide basuc information on child passenger safety basics in the form of videos, posters and print resources in 9 languages: English, French, Mi’kmaq, Arabic, Nepalese, Mandarin Chinese, Somali, Swahili and Tigrinya. The video, “Is Your Child in the Right Seat?” walks the viewer through each of the stages of car seats and booster seats, from the first ride home with a new baby, to determining when a child can safely use the adult seat belt.
The Right Seat resources – supporting all families, but especially designed for newcomer families.
The Right seat resources – supporting all families, with images especially designed to supporting Indigenous families in Atlantic Canada.
Photobank
Do you need photos for a poster or display? We have a photobank with photos of local kids in current, Canadian car seats and booster seats.
Booster Seat Lesson Plan
This 20 minute intervention is evidence-based and well received by children and schools.
This program is a part of the NS curriculum for Grade 2 and can positively influence booster seat use for this age group.
A letter has been sent to schools in Nova Scotia in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. English / French
Additional resources to support the lesson plan include:
Tools for Law Enforcement
There is evidence for enforcement checks creating community awareness for the need to use car seats and booster seats while reaching families who need support.
The Roadside Checkpoint Toolkit can help you to plan one in your community.
Tools for hospitals and primary car clinics/public health
Policy and education: The IWK’s evidence-based Infant Car Seat Education Policy is available to review alongside the Nova Scotia Health Infant Car Seat Education policy.
Resources for nurses to support this policy include a nurse pocket-reference card and an LMS learning module (sample).
The following resources can be ordered at no additional cost at this link and are appropriate to distribute to all families of newborns on discharge:
Guidance for well-baby visits: This guidance document was created by request with talking points for key well-baby visits that align with the Rourke baby record.
Print resources to support this education can be ordered at no additional cost at this link.
Tools for Community Service or Child Care Organizations
Training opportunity for drivers:
This is a car seat, booster seat, and seat belt basics workshop for program staff, social workers, volunteers, and care providers who transport children. This 2-3 hour online, on-demand workshop will guide participants through the basics of child passenger safety. Child Safety Link can offer this program at no cost to organizations in Newfoundland, through a partnership with the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada. Proof of completion is provided. This is not a certification program.
Email Katherine.hutka@iwk.nshealth.ca for codes to access this program at no cost. More information can be found at this link: https://cpsac.thinkific.com/courses/child-passenger-safety-for-drivers
Other Tools for Technicians
Check forms: can be printed here Car Seat Check Form or you can order them for free.
Manual: CPSTs can login on CPSAC.org and download the technician manual.
Recertification: Information on recertification can be found here.
Other CPS Reports and Resources
Infographic: Kids in Cars in Atlantic Canada – What You Need to Know
* Sources cited document available here: references
Highlights from the Nova Scotia Child Passenger Safety Strategy from 2005-2015: click here
Child Passenger Safety Primer (overview of the issue): click here
Child Passenger Safety Symposium 2016 report: click here
Do you have questions or need support in Atlantic Canada?
Call us anytime at 902-470-7324 or email katherine.hutka@iwk.nshealth.ca.
