Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems

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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.

    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), view our flier

     

    Maryland Has Updated Its Child Passenger Safety Law

    Effective October 1, 2022

    Maryland’s child passenger safety (CPS) law was updated to more closely align with laws in neighboring states and spell out best practice. As of October 1, 2022, 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 car seat. All convertible car seats can be used rear-facing until 40 or 50 pounds, so very rarely would a child meet the new law’s exemption, and most children could get the extra protection to their head and spinal cord from being rear-facing until age 3 or more!

    This advice has been part of safety advice for years but not all parents are following it. To help educate families of this lifesaving information, here are free resources:



    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)
    • 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
    "Car Seat and Seatbelt Ages & Stages for Children" (EN, SP, 11"x17") - Available for download below. Printed versions are in stock and may be requested by email at cps@miemss.org.
    "Tips for Preventing Child Heatstroke in Cars" (EN, SP, 11"x17") - Available for download below. Printed versions are in stock and may be requested by email at cps@miemss.org.
    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. Printed versions are in stock and may be requested by email at cps@miemss.org.
    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


      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

      Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke

      Produced: August 24, 2022
      EMS Clinicians can obtain 1 credit. If you would like a certificate, email cps@miemss.org.

      Overview of Child Passenger Safety for MCH Nurses and How to do the Car Seat Tolerance Screen

      Produced: March 24, 2022
      Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form are available as a SurveyMonkey quiz (link at the end of the webinar). 

      Getting Babies Ready for Discharge: The Car Seat Tolerance Screen (Dr. Natalie Davis covers the research behind the test and implications)

      Produced: March 24, 2022
      Participant Quiz and Evaluation Form are available as a SurveyMonkey quiz (link at the end of the webinar). (Eligible for CPST CEU credit)


      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

      Child Passenger Safety for Hospitals

      Transporting Children with Special Needs

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