TD 8. Q: C 43/24
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Passenger
Safety
Courses
2003–2004
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OR (II)
º
Infant iºnis pºsits sºnºur
Child
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LIBRARIES
DEC () 4 2003
DEPOSITED BY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA|
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C O N T E N T S
Introduction
National Standardized Child Passenger
Safety Training
Operation Kids—Law Enforcement
Mobilizing America to Buckle Up Children
Traffic Occupant Protection
Strategies (TOPS)
Operation Kids—RN
Operation Kids—Moving Kids Safely
in Child Care
Safe Native American Passengers (SNAP)—
Training for Transporting Children
Safe Travel for All Children—Transporting
Children with Special Health Care Needs
List of NHTSA Regional Offices
10
12
14
16
18
20
I N T R O D U C T | O N
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion (NHTSA) has developed the following Child
Passenger Safety (CPS) training courses. They
provide accurate, up-to-date occupant protection
information to CPS advocates who work with State
and local CPS programs to promote the correct use
and installation of appropriate child safety seats.
(Child safety seats refer to any type of child
restraint, including booster seats.)
Creating a Child Passenger Safety
Outreach Network
When viewed together, the training courses are
designed to help communities and States create net-
works of CPS advocates who can work concurrently
to promote child passenger safety. The courses vary
in content and length, and only one, the National
Standardized Child Passenger Safety (NSCPS)
Training Program, certifies individuals as CPS
technicians and instructors.
The NSCPS Training Program is offered in Spanish,
as well as English. Because of the technical nature
of some of the information, the program may be
challenging for participants and instructors who
only have rudimentary Spanish speaking and
reading capabilities.
The other courses are shorter versions of the NSCPS
Training Program for law enforcement personnel and
childcare and healthcare workers. These individuals,
along with certified CPS technicians and instructors,
form a community child passenger safety outreach
network. Although the NSCPS Training Program
can be delivered only by a certified CPS instructor,
presentation of the other training courses is at the
discretion of the host organization.
The Role of the CPS Technician
CPS technicians play a critical role in all CPS out-
reach programs. Their technical skills, experience,
and knowledge on the proper installation and use
of child safety seats are necessary for the conduct
of child safety seat inspections at permanent
sites, special clinics, and mobile inspection units.
The requirement for re-certification ensures that
they are kept apprised of the technological
changes and Federal regulations that affect the
correct installation of child safety seats.
The Child Safety Seat Inspection Team
Although certified CPS technicians play a criti-
cal role at child safety seat inspections, not
everyone who works at an inspection site needs
to be certified. Other trained individuals can
support the certified technician by
• Setting up and managing inspection stations
• Educating parents and caregivers on proper
installation
• Checking child safety seat installation
and fit under the supervision of a certified
technician
• Directing parents and caregivers to resources
about child safety in motor vehicles
Since 1998, tens of thousands of individuals
have helped reduce deaths and serious injuries
among young children by educating parents
and other caregivers about the correct use and
installation of child safety seats. We need to
continue their work by supporting local needs
for trained individuals who can promote child
passenger safety.
For More Information
Unless otherwise noted, for more information
about the courses, contact your NHTSA
Regional Office and ask to speak to the training
coordinator. You can find a list of the Regional
Offices at the end of the brochure.
National Standardized Child
Passenger Safety Training”
CPS ADVOCATES
Intended Audience: Individuals who want to become
certified CPS technicians and instructors in order to
educate and assist the public on the proper use and
installation of child passenger safety seats.
Program Focus: This program provides the basic
technical skills, experience, and knowledge of the
proper use and installation of child passenger safety
seats that are required to conduct child safety seat
inspections. To keep apprised of the technological
changes and Federal regulations that affect the correct
installation of child safety seats, technicians and
instructors must be re-certified every two years.
Program Length: The NSCPS Training Program is
approximately 32 hours long. It can be conducted in
a variety of formats, such as, four days in a row and
two times a week.
Content: Upon successfully completing the training
program, CPS technicians have the knowledge and
skills to:
• Secure children in appropriate child
restraint systems
• Install child restraint systems in multiple
types of vehicles
• Educate others on how to correctly install child
restraint systems in their vehicles
• Educate others about how to properly restrain
children in motor vehicles
• Organize, coordinate, or assist at inspection
stations and checkup events
• Use appropriate resources to retrieve information
related to CPS
*This program is offered in Spanish, as well as English.


• Respond appropriately to legal and ethical issues
related to the role of the CPS technician
• Obtain information from CPS resources in
response to requests for information that is not
readily available
Participants should be prepared for the physical activity
required for installing child safety seats. Written and
hands-on testing are required in order to receive certifi-
cation. (Participants must attend the entire course to
be eligible for certification.)
Instructional Staff: Only child passenger safety
instructors who are nationally certified can teach this
course. Additional staff may be needed for the hands-
on portion of the training, which requires an instruc-
tor/participant ratio of one to five.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: Presentation equipment (a PowerPoint
or overhead projector) and supplies, as described in the
Instructor Guide. A variety of child safety seats, locking
clips, and other demonstration materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to
comfortably seat the planned class size with extra space
to set up child safety seats for demonstrations. Access
to the outdoors is needed for hands-on training in
vehicles.
Recommended Number of Participants: 20–25
participants
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: There is a certification fee.

Operation Kids–Law Enforcement
LAW
ENFORCENTENT
PERSONNEL
Intended Audience: Law enforcement administrators
and officers
Program Focus: This program was developed to
encourage law enforcement administrators and officers
to actively promote child passenger safety through
enforcement and community education. It promotes
the need for officers to take a more active role in
extending their agency's enforcement guidelines
and strategies to include child passenger safety. The
program includes separate sessions for law enforcement
administrators and officers. The officer training is
especially relevant for officers who interact with
parents and children on a regular basis. Note: National
certification is not available for this course.
Program Length: Operation Kids training is offered in
a four-hour format for administrators and an eight-hour
and two-day format for officers.
Content:
Course for Administrators—The four-hour course is
designed to increase awareness of the need for and the
benefits of promoting child passenger safety. Course
content focuses on ways to enhance child passenger
safety enforcement and develop community CPS
programs. Participants learn how to be more effective
CPS advocates and how to access local and national
TeSOUITCeS.
Course for Officers—The eight-hour course provides
officers with a general overview of child passenger safe-
ty issues (including the need for enforcement), injury
prevention, and the correct use and installation of child
restraint systems. Officers gain a strong understanding
of the importance of child restraint use and their role as
community advocates. The course does not, however,
provide extensive hands-on activities on the correct use
and installation of child restraint systems.


Course for Officers—The two-day course covers the
basics of injury prevention, information on the compat-
ibility of child safety seats and vehicles, and methods
for developing child passenger safety community pro-
grams. The curriculum includes hands-on activities on
the correct use and installation of child restraint
systems. Officers who successfully complete the two-day
program will receive a certificate of completion from
the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Instructional Staff: This course should be taught by a
CPS technician who is nationally certified. Additional
staff may be needed for the hands-on portion of the
training, which requires an instructor/participant ratio
of one to five.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: Presentation equipment (a PowerPoint or
overhead projector) and supplies, as described in the
Instructor Guide. A variety of child safety seats, locking
clips, and other demonstration materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to com-
fortably seat the planned class size with extra space to
set up child safety seats for demonstrations.
Recommended Number of Participants: 20–25
participants
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: The cost is at the discretion of
the host agency. Participants may be charged a fee to
recover expenses, such as instructor fees, materials,
food, and rental of meeting space.

Mobilizing America to Buckle Up Children
LAW
ENFORCENTENT
PERSONNEL
Intended Audience: Field law enforcement personnel
who patrol roads, streets, and highways to enforce traf-
fic laws, either as a primary assignment or as part of
their general duties. These personnel include municipal
police officers, sheriff's deputies, and State police and
highway patrol troopers.
Program Focus: This program is designed to encour-
age law officers to stop drivers who are transporting
children who are not properly secured and to take
appropriate enforcement action. Note: National certifi-
cation is not available for this course.
Program Length: The curriculum for this course con-
sists of five modules that can be taught alone or in
combination. Either a 15-minute, one- to two-hour, or
four-hour course is recommended. -
Content:
The 15-minute course consists of a “roll call” videotape
that addresses diverse issues, such as gross child seat
misuse, seat positioning, proper installation, and law
enforcement's role in child passenger safety.
The one- to two-hour course includes the videotape and
provides details on the patrol officer's role in dealing
with unsecured children.
The four-hour course expands on the two-hour course. It
focuses on specific skills that will help officers identify
child passenger safety violations and take appropriate
action.


Instructional Staff: Local instructors may teach this
course using NHTSA-developed materials. NHTSA
strongly recommends that instructors have substantial
patrol experience dealing with child passenger safety
violations.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: VCR and other teaching tools, as indicat-
ed in the instructional materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to com-
fortably seat the planned class size.
Recommended Number of Participants: Varies
depending on selected course
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: No costs for materials; tuition, if
any, is determined by the host agency.

Traffic Occupant Protection
Strategies (TOPS)
LAW
ENFORCENTENT
PERSONNEL
Intended Audience: State and local law enforcement
officers who may or may not be involved in traffic law
enforcement
Program Focus: This program covers educational,
enforcement, and reporting issues to improve officers'
knowledge of and ability to enforce occupant protec-
tion laws. A significant portion of the curriculum is
skill-based to provide officers with the abilities neces-
sary to identify driving risks and to evaluate the events
of a crash. The program also provides strategies for
increasing occupant protection use, ranging from advo-
cacy to managing resources. Note: National certifica-
tion is not available for this course.
Program Length: The curriculum for this program
consists of seven modules—three are core to the pro-
gram and four are optional. The core modules require
five hours of classroom time. The four optional modules
are designed to stand alone, but may be combined.
They are each approximately 45 minutes long.
Content: The following topics are covered in the
seven modules:
• General driving risks and driving risks for law
enforcement
• The six types of crashes and crash dynamics
• The cost of traffic crashes
• Correct usage of safety belts and child safety seats
• Current air bag issues
• Local occupant protection issues
• Working with community advocacy groups
and the media



Instructional Staff: NHTSA recommends that this
course be taught by law enforcement instructors who
are familiar with the TOPS curriculum.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: Teaching tools, as indicated in the
instructional materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to com-
fortably seat the planned class size.
Recommended Number of Participants: Varies
depending on course content selected
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: No cost for materials; tuition, if
any, is determined by the host agency.

Operation Kids–RN
HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS
Intended Audience: Nurses, EMS personnel, and
other healthcare professionals
Program Focus: This program teaches nurses and
other healthcare professionals to be effective CPS
advocates and to serve as resources for their peers, par-
ents and caregivers, and others. It focuses on the use of
child restraints for children who are injured or have
other special needs and on how to set up hospital-based
child passenger safety programs. Note: National certifi-
cation is not available for this course.
Program Length: Operation Kids for nurses is a two-
day course. There are also eight-hour and four-hour for-
Inats.
Content: This two-day course provides nurses with a
general overview of child passenger safety issues, injury
prevention, and the correct use and installation of child
restraint systems. They learn about the use of special-
ized child restraints for children who are injured or dis-
abled and how to set up a hospital-based child passen-
ger safety program. Nurses leave the course with a
strong understanding of the importance of child
restraint use and the role they can play as community
advocates. The course includes opportunities for hands-
on practice and a child safety seat inspection. RNs who
successfully complete the course are eligible for contin-
uing education credits.



Instructional Staff: This course should be taught by a
CPS technician who is nationally certified. Additional
staff may be needed for the hands-on portion of the
training, which requires an instructor/participant ratio
of one to five.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: Presentation equipment (a PowerPoint or
overhead projector) and supplies, as described in the
Instructor Guide. A variety of child safety seats, locking
clips, and other demonstration materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to accom-
modate tables for the number of students attending
with extra space for car seats and hands-on exercises.
Recommended Number of Participants: 20–25
participants
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: The cost is at the discretion of
the host agency. Participants may be charged a fee to
recover expenses, such as instructor fees, materials,
food, and rental of meeting space.

Operation Kids–Moving Kids
Safely in Child Care
CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS
Intended Audience: Childcare providers, including
but not limited to day care administrators, licensing
officials, childcare health and safety consultants, camp
directors, and day camp directors.
Program Focus: This course addresses the basics of
child restraint use in the context of the legal and safety
issues that childcare providers must consider when
transporting children in motor vehicles. Note:
National certification is not available for this course.
Program Length: This course has a 12-hour curricu-
lum that requires one and a half days of instruction.
Content: Course content provides a broad overview of
child passenger safety issues and training in the basic
elements of child safety seat use and installation. A
major focus of the curriculum is on the legal and ethical
issues associated with transporting children, driver
selection criteria, vehicle inspection and safety, and the
supervision of children while riding in a motor vehicle.
Participants should be prepared for the physical activity
required for installing child safety seats. A written test
is required for those who take the course for continuing
education credit.


Instructional Staff: This course should be taught by a
CPS technician who is nationally certified. Additional
staff may be needed for the hands-on portion of the
training, which requires an instructor/participant ratio
of one to five.
Participant Materials: Materials, such as participant
manuals and handouts, are provided by the host agency.
Equipment: Presentation equipment (a PowerPoint or
overhead projector) and supplies, as described in the
Instructor Guide. A variety of child safety seats, locking
clips, and other demonstration materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to accom-
modate tables for the number of students attending
with extra space for car seats and hands-on exercises.
Recommended Number of Participants: 20–25
participants
Cost to Host Agency: Costs vary and may include the
cost of the facility, instructional team, food, audiovisual
equipment, and materials.
Cost to Participants: No cost for materials; tuition, if
any, is determined by the host agency.

Safe Native American Passengers (SNAP)
Training for Transporting Children”
CPS ADVOCATES
Intended Audience: Anyone with an interest in
child passenger safety who works in American Indian/
Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities, including
health educators, EMS personnel, fire department
personnel, law enforcement personnel, checkpoint
volunteers, and childcare providers.
Program Focus: This course was developed to increase
awareness of child passenger safety issues in AI/AN
communities. In addition to standard CPS content, the
course addresses issues unique to AI/AN populations,
for example, the use of “cradleboards” in the transport
of children and the fact that State safety belt laws are
not applicable in AI/AN lands. Other issues specific to
AI/AN groups include high death rates in motor vehi-
cle crashes and children riding in the back of pickup
trucks. Note: National certification is not available for
this course.
Program Length: This is a one-day course; however,
participants are encouraged to spend an additional four
hours working at an inspection station or checkpoint.
Content: The following topics are covered:
• Background information on child passenger safety
• Crash dynamics
• Vehicle occupant protection systems
• Child restraint systems
• Correct installation
• Misuse of child safety seats
• Child safety seat check-ups
* Although this course was not developed by NHTSA, the Agency supports
the value it provides to persons who work with American Indian/Alaskan
Native communities.


Instructional Staff: This course should be taught by a
CPS technician who is nationally certified. Additional
staff may be needed for the hands-on portion of the
training, which requires an instructor/participant ratio
of one to five.
Participant Materials: A CD containing all course
materials and the instructor guide
Equipment: Presentation equipment (a PowerPoint
or overhead projector) and supplies, as described in the
Instructor Guide. A variety of child safety seats, locking
clips, and other demonstration materials.
Room Requirements: A room large enough to com-
fortably seat the planned class size and extra space to
set up child safety seats for demonstrations.
Recommended Number of Participants:
15 participants
Cost to Host Agency: $0–$150
Cost to Participants: None
Contact Information
Holly Billie, Injury Prevention Coordinator
Indian Health Service, Reno District
1395 Greg Street, Suite 101
Sparks, NV 89436
Phone: 775–784-5327
Fax: 775–784-5086
Email: holly.billieſ)mail.ihs.gov

Safe Travel For All Children–Transporting
Children With Special Health Care Needs”
CPS TECHNICANS
This course is designed to serve as an enrichment
course for CPS technicians who are interested in
learning more about special needs transportation. The
training, which lasts approximately a day and a half,
combines classroom lectures and discussions with
hands-on exercises. During the training, participants
are introduced to medical conditions that can affect
restraint selection and have the opportunity to
investigate and install specialized restraint systems.
The training concludes with a proficiency exam
that evaluates the student's ability to assess appropriate
restraints and to demonstrate proper use and installa-
tion. Note: National certification is not available
for this course.
If you are interested in receiving more information
about training opportunities, please contact the
Automotive Safety Program, Riley Hospital for
Children, Indiana University School of Medicine at,
317-274-2977, or log onto www.preventinjury.org.
* Although this course was not developed by NHTSA, the Agency supports
the value it provides to persons who work with children who have special
transportation needs. Additional information relating to special needs can be
found in NHTSA's brochure "Adapting Motor Vehicles for People with
Disabilities,” which can be viewed and ordered on NHTSA's Web site,
www.nhtsa.gov.


List of NHTSA Regional Offices
Region I (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
55 Broadway—Kendall Square
Code 903
Cambridge, MA 02142
617-494-3427
617-494-3646 Fax
region10nhtsa.dot.gov
Region II (NY, NJ, PR, VI)
222 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 204
White Plains, NY 10605
914-682-6162
914-682-6239 Fax
region2Qnhtsa.dot.gov
Region III (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV)
10 South Howard Street, Suite 6700
Baltimore, MD 2120.1
410-962-0090
410-962-2770 Fax
region39nhtsa.dot.gov
Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 17T30
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-562–3739
404-562-3763 Fax
region4(Onhtsa.dot.gov
Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
19900 Governors Drive, Suite 201
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
708–503-8892 - -
708–503-8991 Fax
region50nhtsa.dot.gov
Region VI (AR, LA, MN, OK, TX, Indian Nations)
819 Taylor Street, Room 8A38
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817–978-3653
817–978-83.39 Fax
region60nhtsa.dot.gov

List of NHTSA Regional Offices
Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE)
901 Locust Street, Room 466
Kansas City, MO 64106
816-329-3900 t
816-329-3910 Fax
region?Qnhtsa.dot.gov
Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
555 Zang Street, Room 430
Lakewood, CO 80228
303-969-6917
303-969-6294 Fax
region&Qnhtsa.dot.gov
Region IX (AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa,
Guam, Mariana Islands)
201 Mission Street, Suite 2230
San Francisco, CA 94105
415–744-3089
415-744-2532 Fax
region.92nhtsa.dot.gov
Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA)
3140 Jackson Federal Building
915 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 981.74
206-220-7640
206-220-7651 Fax
region102nhtsa.dot.gov

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
DOT HS 809 645
September 2003
Q)
U.S. Deportment of Ironsporoſion
-
National Highway Traffic Safety People Saving People
Administriction www.mitsa.dot.gºv