It’s Child Passenger Safety Week and this year Child Safety Link is focusing on “Breaking Down Barriers to Buckling”!
Everybody wants their children to be safe, and we are all doing the best we can with what we know and have. That’s why this Child Passenger Safety Week we are shining a light on the barriers families face—and how together we can provide better access to education and support so that every child is safely buckled on every ride.
A new research study conducted in Nova Scotia by Dalhousie University, in collaboration with Child Safety Link, shows just how important this work is. The study, with funding from Cybex Canada and support from the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (CPSAC), assesses 1005 children traveling in vehicles at 41 check events in 33 communities and finds a very high rate of misuse.
Child Safety Link is working to break down three common barriers families face:
1. Knowing where to get information
“When should my child switch to forward-facing? What does that even mean? Does my child still need to use a booster seat? Do car seats expire?” We hear these questions every day, and we love answering them! Child Safety Link offers free, evidence-based resources for families and professionals through our website, and we also train Child Passenger Safety Technicians who are available in communities across Atlantic Canada to help with hands-on support.
Child Safety Link: https://childsafetylink.ca/
Find a CPST: http://cpsac.org/find-a-tech
Contact Us: https://childsafetylink.ca/contact-csl
2. Access to safety equipment
This year, with funding from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Child Safety Link provided 51 car seat grants worth $1,000 each to organizations across Atlantic Canada who distributed the funds to families in their communities. Car seat grants are important because they reduce financial barriers, ensuring all families can access safe, properly fitted car seats that protect children on the road.
3. Language-specific resources
Not all families can easily access information in English. That’s why Child Safety Link continues to develop and share multilingual child passenger safety posters, fact sheets and videos, helping caregivers understand instructions and safety tips in the language they are most comfortable with.
Multilingual Resource: https://childsafetylink.ca/the-right-seat
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, we’re sharing top tips to keep children safe in the car:
- Don’t rush your child through each stage.
- Make sure your child’s harness is snug.
- Install your seat tight to the vehicle.
- Always use the tether on a forward-facing car seat.
- Always follow the instructions for your seat.
- Seek additional help and support when you need it.
Parents and caregivers with questions can call Child Safety Link’s car seat support line at 1-866-288-1388 (toll-free in Atlantic Canada) or 902-470-7036, or email childsafetylink@iwk.nshealth.ca.