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Child Passenger Safety and Occupant Protection

The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems offers the Child Passenger Safety and Occupant Protection Health Care Project (CPS & OP Health Care Project) as part of its EMS for Children program. The project is funded by the Maryland Highway Safety Office with use of federal funds. The focus of the project is to promote “best practice” child passenger safety (CPS) & occupant protection (OP) education and discharge policies for Maryland hospitals and health care professionals. Education and resources are provided free of charge to Maryland's hospitals to ensure that parents and caregivers are doing the most they can to keep children safe.

MD KISS logo

Need personal help with your car seat?

FREE in-person and virtual assistance is available through Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (MD KISS). Visit the MD KISS website to schedule an appointment OR call the helpline at 800-370-SEAT (7328) Monday - Friday.

2024 Regional Car Seat Check Events – Promotional Flyers to View/Download

The CPS & OP Health Care Project includes:

  • CPS training & materials to hospital MCH and emergency departments
  • Webinars for continuing education on CPS hot topics
  • Youth occupant protection education and trainings
  • Guidelines for hospital policy and discharge procedures
  • Posters (many in Spanish)
  • Assistance for children with special health care needs
  • Other language resources on CPS

 

For more information, please email us at cps@miemss.org or call (410) 706-8647.

For pre-driver education materials, please email us at cps@miemss.org or call (410) 706-8647.

Interested in becoming a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST)?

 

Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Law

Effective October 1, 2022

Maryland’s child passenger safety (CPS) law requires that children must face the rear of the vehicle in their car seat until they are AT LEAST AGE TWO, or until they reach the rear-facing weight limit of their convertible or all-in-one car seat. All convertible and all-in-one car seats can be used rear-facing until 40 or 50 pounds, so very rarely would a child exceed the weight limits before turning two. Children who ride rear-facing beyond age two (up to the seats’ height or weight limits) get the extra protection to their head and spinal cord from being rear-facing.



Preventing Child Heatstroke in Cars

Outdoor Temperature Check Stand906 children have died due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) since 1998 (www.noheatstroke.org). All of these deaths could have been prevented. Educate your community about this with materials from MIEMSS.

  • Outdoor heatstroke prevention display with temperature monitors that show how quickly the inside of a car heats up relative to outdoor temperature. Maryland agencies can borrow this display kit for free (including large sign-magnets and handouts) for their one-to-several day events. (Download the handout HERE) and (Request the Display HERE)
  • Posters and handouts on pediatric vehicular heatstroke.
  • Stand-up banners for indoor displays
  • Social media messaging

Contact cps@miemss.org to obtain these materials.

Check out the webinar, Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, in our Webinars section.

Materials

 

Handouts and Posters

 
Sample Poster - Car Seat and Seatbelt Ages & Stages for Children - English English / Spanish
Sample Poster - Tips for Preventing Child Heatstroke in Cars - English English / Spanish
 
"Safest Travel for the Youngest Passengers" - (EN, SP, RU, CH, BUR, and KR, 8.5"x11" information sheet) Available for download below. Printed versions are in stock and may be requested by email at cps@miemss.org.
"SafeKids - Teens in Cars" (EN, SP, 17"x11") - Available for download below.
 
Sample Information Sheet - Safest Travel for the Youngest Passengers English / Spanish / Russian / Chinese Burmese / Korean / Haitian-Creole / Pashto
Sample Poster - SafeKids - Teens in Cars English / Spanish
 
Maryland Reference for Safe Kids Transport in Ambulances

 

The laminated reference guide that should be on each Maryland ambulance is getting some updated pages! Click on the link below to download the new Ferno and Stryker harnessing guides or contact cps@miemss.org to get the laminated versions or the full guide.

Click Here to Download Updated Pages

 

 

 

 

To receive free posters or handouts, email cps@miemss.org or call (410) 706-8647.

Child Passenger Safety PSA Videos

Seeking social media messages on CPS to use?

MIEMSS channel has several Child Passenger Safety PSA videos for you to share on your social media channels. The videos can be found on our Youtube page.

See Video List

Online Learning/CEUs

Get updated on hot topics in child passenger safety! Listen and view these webinars by clicking on the "Watch" button, or view them on the MIEMSS YouTube page.

Contact MIEMSS’ CPS for Healthcare Project to verify which webinars are currently eligible for any CEUs:
Susanne Ogaitis-Jones
sogaitisjones@miemss.org

Webinars

2025 – 2024 Webinars

Bump Ahead: Ensuring Maternal and Fetal Safety on the Road

Produced: May 6, 2025
Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of fetal death related to maternal trauma, and crash-injuries to a fetus can be significant, with life-long consequences. Pregnant women involved in MVCs are at higher risk of death and complications than those not in crashes, and they require specialized assessment and procedures after a crash. In this webinar, healthcare and safety experts will describe the mechanisms of injury to the mother and fetus in a MVC, triage considerations, potential health outcomes to mother and baby in and after the crash, and anticipatory guidance. Results from a study at the University of Colorado on pregnant women and buckling up will be presented with implications for clinicians and safety advocates everywhere. Speakers include Abby Butler, MSN, RNC-OB, Director of Perinatal and Neonatal Referral Centers, and Elizabeth Wooster, RN, PhD, Director of Trauma and Injury Specialty Care, both at the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems. Gregory Colton, EMT and Community Outreach Captain at the University of Colorado Health EMS will also be a presenter. Continuing education credit for viewing this and passing a short quiz is available with the Maryland Nurses Association, MIEMSS’ EMS, and SKWW (Child Passenger Safety Technicians).
Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form (Eligible for CPST CEU credit)

Fake, Foreign, or Fine?

Produced: July 31, 2024
Healthcare providers and Child Passenger Safety Technicians across Maryland and the U.S. report that increasing numbers of caregivers have fake or foreign-made car seats. These caregivers are often unaware that the seats may not meet U.S. standards, and that they may be illegal or unsafe to use. Dr. Alisa Baer, of The Car Seat Lady, will define the differences between “fake, foreign or fine” seats, and give tips so consumers can recognize what type of seat they are considering. The webinar will also explain how to report imposter car seats and how healthcare providers or CPSTs can help caregivers when they have a car seat that doesn’t meet U.S. standards.
Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form (Eligible for CPST CEU credit)


2022 – 2023 Webinars

Coping with Challenging Behaviors of Children in Cars

Produced: July 6, 2023
The CDC estimates that about 17% of children ages 3 - 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities, and 4.3% of children have a physical disability. This often means challenges when riding in cars. Eileen Gerling, OTR/, ATP, CPST/I at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Virginia will share insight into the background of some behavioral challenges common among children with disabilities of various types, plus tips for caregivers to cope, especially relating to children in car seats and boosters.

Transporting Children with Disabilities: Conventional Restraint Options

Produced: June 26, 2023
1 CEU is available for CPSTs; Quiz linked here

Data to Directives: Integrating Crash Reports and Hospital Data to Guide Prevention in Child Passenger Safety

Produced: March 23, 2023
1 CEU is available for CPSTs; 1.25 CEUs are available for Maryland EMS. Quiz linked here


2020 – 2021 Webinars

MIEMSS’ CPS Project in Maryland Hospital Emergency Departments

Produced: November 20, 2021

Maryland Hospital MCH Car Seat Distribution Program, 2021 – 2022

Produced: November 17, 2021

What’s New in Booster Research

Produced: September 14, 2021 Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form
(Eligible for CPST CEU credit)

2017 – 2019 Webinars

Understanding the WHY of Seatbelt and Child Restraints

Produced: September 9, 2019
Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form

Update on Crash Dynamics for CPS

Produced: August 21, 2018
Participant Evaluation Form

Overview of Pediatric Injury Biomechanics: The How and Why for CPS

Produced: March 29, 2017 (reviewed/approved 3/2019)
Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form

2012 – 2016 Webinars

Getting Buckle Up Messages to Minorities

Produced: August 24, 2016

Transporting Children in Alternate Vehicles: Taxis, Buses, Trains, Planes

Produced: April 28, 2016

Happy Children in Safe Seats: Not As Easy it Sounds

Produced: July 18, 2013

Reference

Child Passenger Safety Resources

Transporting Children Who Might Need Adaptive Restraints

Important Links

Child Passenger Safety for Hospitals

Maryland Governor and Leutenant Governor

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1-800-762-7157 or Dial 7-1-1 to place a call through Maryland Relay