1. This document provides information on safely transporting children in vehicles, including selecting the appropriate child safety seat based on a child's age, weight, and height. It discusses key factors like crash physics, safety restraints, and correct installation of child seats. 2. Caregivers are responsible for children's safety during transport and must understand child passenger safety. This training covers selecting the proper child safety seat, correctly positioning a child within it, and securely installing the seat in a vehicle. 3. Installing a child safety seat correctly using either the seat belt or LATCH system is important to protect children in crashes. Caregivers should seek assistance from a certified technician to check their installation.

1. 1
TransportingChildren
Safely

2. LearningObjectives
After completing this course, you should be able to:
1. Explain how restraints protect passengers in a crash
2. Discuss the importance of child passenger safety
3. Select the correct child safety seat for a child’s age, weight, and height
4. Correctly use a child safety seat
5. Identify the elements of correct installation of child safety seats
2

3. Introduction
This training is designed to supply caregivers with basic
knowledge on the correct selection, usage, and installation
of child safety seats, as well as information regarding safety
in and around vehicles.
Caregivers are often faced with transporting children in
their care and, therefore, must assume the responsibility of
the child’s safety during transport. The more knowledgeable
a caregiver is about child passenger safety, the more likely it
is that children in their care will be transported safely.
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4. Introduction(ctd.)
Caregivers are encouraged to seek assistance from a
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, whenever
possible, to have their child safety seat installation checked.
To locate a certified technician in your area, go to
safekids.org/certification and click on “Find a Tech.”
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5. 5
Crash Safety

6. PhysicsofaCrash
To understand the importance of vehicle safety restraints, it
is important to understand the basics of crash dynamics.
Newton’s first law of motion (the law of inertia) states that
an object in motion will remain in motion at the original
speed until acted upon by an outside force.
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7. PhysicsofaCrash(ctd.)
The amount of force involved in a crash can be estimated by multiplying
Weight of the occupant x Speed of the vehicle before the crash
Following this formula, a 20-pound child in a 30-mph crash will develop 600 pounds of force
20 lbs. x 30 mph = 600 pounds of force
600 pounds is the necessary force to hold onto/restrain a 20-pound child in a 30-mph crash.
7
Knowing this information, it is easy to see that it would be impossible to hold a child
on your lap and try to protect them in a crash.

8. 1. Incremental Risk of Injury and Fatality Associated with Complete Ejection [online]. U.S. DOT/NHTSA (producer). [2009 Nov 25].
WhyRestraintsMatter
Although the primary reason for child safety seats is to prevent ejection, they also help
to distribute crash forces to the strongest parts of the child’s body and spread those
forces over a larger area of the body.
Preventing ejection:
• Ejection is associated with high risk of injury and death.
Relative to occupants who are not ejected from vehicles,
occupants who are ejected in non-rollover crashes are
nearly twice as likely to die, and those who are ejected in
rollover crashes are 4 times more likely to die.1
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9. WhyRestraintsMatter(ctd.)
Preventing people from colliding with the vehicle interior during a crash:
• Even though a vehicle may have slowed or stopped after collision, unbelted occupants keep
moving at the same travel speed until they catch up with and crash into what's in front of them
(including other occupants). Restraints help to prevent or reduce injuries from this second
collision by securing people to their seats, so they slow down with the vehicle.
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10. WhyRestraintsMatter(ctd.)
Spreading crash forces over a wider area of the body:
• Restraints are designed to spread crash forces across the stronger bony parts of the body, such as
the shoulder, rib cage, and pelvis.
10

11. PassengerSafetyFacts
Motor vehicles injuries are the leading cause of death among
children in the US. However, many of these deaths can be
prevented.
• In the United States, 675 children 12 years old and younger died as
occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and nearly 116,000 were injured in
2017.
• Of the children 12 years old and younger who died in a crash in 2017*,
35% were not buckled up.
* For cases in which restraint use was known
• Child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. 46% of car seats and
booster seats are misused in a way that could reduce their
effectiveness.
11
Child Passenger Safety: Get the Facts [online]. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [2019 Sep 13].

12. ChildSafetyNeeds
Children are not just small adults…
• Their bodies are still developing and are unable to withstand crash forces.
• Infants have disproportionately larger and heavier heads, shorter legs, and narrow, flexible
shoulders. The bones in an infant’s neck and spine are not well-developed.
• Toddlers have a small pelvis that is not developed until puberty, causing the lap portion of the belt
to ride over the abdomen instead of being properly positioned over the lower hips.
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There are several different types of child safety seats designed to protect infants and
children at each stage of growth.

13. 13
Child Safety
Seats

14. UsingChildSafetySeats
• Protecting children in motor vehicles requires the correct selection of a child safety seat
based on the child’s:
• Age;
• Weight;
• Height; and
• Physical tolerance.
• It is important that the child is properly placed in the child safety seat.
• It is necessary that the child safety seat is correctly and securely installed in the vehicle.
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15. TheLawvs.BestPractice
MD and TX Law:
• Children less than age 8, unless taller than 4’ 9”, must be in a child safety seat system used in
accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.
• All occupants of the vehicle who are not required to be in a child safety seat are required to be
secured by a seatbelt, no matter where they are seated in the vehicle (front seat or back seat).
• In Texas, the definition of passenger vehicle includes a passenger van designed to transport 15 or
fewer passengers, including the driver.
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Current laws can be found here: iihs.org/topics/seat-belts/seat-belt-law-table

16. TheLawvs.BestPractice(ctd.)
Laws represent the minimum requirement. Best practice
represents the safest way to travel for a child, based on age,
size, physical development, and behavioral needs.
Unfortunately, the law is not always the same as best
practice. As a caregiver, you should not only be familiar with
current laws regarding child restraints, but also best
practices for transporting children safely on every ride.
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Always follow best practice regarding child safety seats.

17. 17
Selecting the
Right Seat

18. SelectingtheRightSeat
Rear-Facing Infant & Rear-Facing Convertible
Seat
• In the back seat
• As long as possible, from birth until 2-4 (switch to
convertible seat when infant seat outgrown but
child is still in weight/height range)
• 5-point harness offers the best protection
• Distributes crash forces along the entire back of the
seat shell, rather than child’s head, neck, or spine
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19. SelectingtheRightSeat(ctd.)
Forward-Facing Seat
• In the back seat
• After outgrowing rear-facing seat until at least age
5 (until the child reaches the maximum weight or
height limit of the forward-facing car seat)
• 5-point harness offers the best protection; prevents
ejection and distributes crash forces to shoulders
and hips
• Mid-point of child’s ears should not be higher than
top of seat.
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20. RearorForward-Facing?
It is recommended that children are rear-facing for as long as possible, until they reach
the maximum weight or height limit of their rear-facing car seat.
• A convertible seat may be needed to keep the child rear-facing.
• Facing a child forward too soon may cause lifelong or even fatal neck and spinal injuries.
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21. SelectingtheRightSeat(ctd.)
Booster Seats
• High-Back Booster
• Backless Booster
• In the back seat
• After outgrowing forward-facing seat and until
seatbelt fits properly
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22. SelectingtheRightSeat(ctd.)
Seatbelts
• In the back seat until age 13
• When they fit properly and throughout life
• Proper seatbelt fit usually occurs around 4’ 9” tall.
Seatbelts fit properly when the lap belt lays across
upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder
belt lays across the chest (not the neck).
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23. 23
Child Placement
in a Safety Seat

24. SecuringaChildinaSafetySeat
Harness Straps:
• To hold the child securely in place at all times, but especially in the event of a crash
• Require constant attention and adjustment (which makes them prone to human error)
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25. SecuringaChildinaSafetySeat(ctd.)
Chest Clip:
• To position the two shoulder straps and keep them parallel in a crash
• Should be across the chest at armpit level
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26. PlacingaChildinaRear-FacingSafetySeat
When placing a child in a rear-facing seat:
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct recline angle (maximum 45°). For infants,
this prevents their head from rolling forward and blocking the airway. Most infant seats have a
recline indicator on the side of the seat.
• Position child with back flat against the seat back (for infants,
place buttocks in the child safety seat, first).
• Harness Straps
• Place over the shoulders and through the crotch
• Should be placed at or below shoulder level
• Straps should be very snug, with no slack
• Make sure there are no twists
• Chest Clip
• The clip should be at armpit level to hold the straps in place
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27. PlacingaChildinaForward-FacingSafetySeat
When placing a child in a forward-facing seat:
• Position child with bottom touching the seat back.
• If using a convertible seat, ensure the recliner adjuster is in the upright position.
• Harness Straps
• Place over the shoulders and through the crotch
• Should be placed as close to shoulder level as possible, without
being below the shoulders
• Straps should be very snug, with no slack
• Make sure there are no twists
• Chest Clip
• The clip should be at armpit level to hold the straps in place
27

28. HarnessStrapsandChestClips
281. www.safekids.org/ultimate-car-seat-guide/basic-tips/right-fit/#4
2. csftl.org/a-chest-clip-goes-on-the-chest/

29. WinterCoatsandSafetySeats
293. www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/12/winter-coats-and-car-seats-keeping-your-child-safe-and-warm/index.htm

30. PlacingaChildinaBoosterSeat
• When using booster seats with built-in harnesses, follow the forward-facing safety seat guidelines
and use in accordance with manufacturer instructions regarding weight and height.
• Lap belt should lie flat across upper thighs, not the soft abdomen.
• Shoulder belt should cross over middle of shoulder and across center of chest.
• Ensure the seat back is high enough to provide head and neck protection. If not, select a booster
seat with a back.
• A shoulder belt positioner can be used to position the belt properly, if needed.
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31. 31
Installation of
Safety Seats

32. SecuringtheChildSafetySeatintheVehicle
To properly secure a child safety seat in a vehicle, there are several considerations:
• The safest place for a child to ride
• Anatomy of a seatbelt
• How to attach the safety seat to the vehicle
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It is important to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions that come with a
child safety seat.

33. • Never install a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat, if
there is an active passenger airbag. Do not put a forward-
facing child safety seat in the front, unless there is no other
choice.
• If you must for a forward-facing seat in the front, make sure it is
as far back as possible.
• The force of an airbag can injure or kill a child. There is no
evidence that an airbag offers any extra protection to any
children in child safety seat.
TheSafestPlaceforChildtoRide
The center rear seating position is generally the safest.
• If there is no center seating position or a secure fit is not possible, the rear passenger side is
the next best option.
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The back seat is the safest place for all children 12 and under to ride.

34. • Never secure any type of child safety seat in a location
with an automatic belt attached to the door.
• After choosing where to secure a child safety seat, it is important to determine the type of
seatbelts present. Some are child-safety-seat-friendly and others are not…
TheSafestPlaceforChildtoRide(ctd.)
• Never secure a child safety seat
in a side-facing seat or jump
seat.
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35. Seatbelts
2 main types:
• Lap belts
• Lap-and-shoulder belts
Parts of a seatbelt:
• Buckle
• Retractor
• Anchor
• Webbing/strap
• Latchplate
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36. Latchplates
Types of latchplates:
• Locking
• Webbing threads through an adjuster. A metal locking bar inside (can
be viewed by looking at the underside) prevents webbing from sliding
back through the latchplate when it is kept parallel. Found mostly on
lap-belt only seatbelts but can also be found on lap-and-shoulder
belts. To use, buckle and tighten it by pulling excess webbing.
(Lightweight: has a plastic locking bar that cinches webbing and keeps
it from loosening.)
• Sliding
• Webbing is threaded through a hole in the metal part of the
latchplate. There is no locking bar, which allows the seatbelt webbing
to slide freely. Found only on lap-and-shoulder seatbelts.
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37. Latchplates(ctd.)
Types of latchplates:
• Sewn-On
• Webbing permanently attached (sewn) to metal
buckle. Found on both lap-only and lap-and-
shoulder belt systems. Seatbelt cannot be
adjusted or tightened at the latchplate.
• Switchable
• Found on a handful of vehicles. Normally a sliding
latchplate that can be switched from adult mode
(sliding) to child mode (locking) by sliding a
button or turning a dial on the underside of the
latchplate. Found only on lap-and-shoulder
seatbelts.
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38. Retractors
Types of Retractors:
• Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
• Allows free-flowing movement of the seatbelt
• Locks up only when the vehicle or passenger moves or stops suddenly
• Will not hold a car seat tight in the car by itself, but will lock in the event of a crash
• Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
• Remains locked after it is pulled out. As seatbelt webbing is winding back into the ALR, it locks and
prevents the seatbelt from being pulled back out.
• Switchable Retractor
• Designed to be as an ELR for an adult or as an ALR for a child
• Most can be turned from ELR to ALR by pulling the seatbelt all the way out of the retractor. As the
webbing rewinds, it should lock and prevent the seatbelt from being pulled back out
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39. LockingClips
A locking clip needs to be used under the following circumstances:
• You have an ELR and your latchplate does not lock or hold the child safety seat tight. Use a locking
clip to lock your seat tight.
• You have a sliding latchplate and an ELR. Use a locking clip to lock your child safety seat tight.
• The locked retractor causes the shoulder portion of the seatbelt to pull a rear-facing seat's base up
to one side. Use a locking clip so the base of the child safety seat stays flat on the vehicle seat.
• The angle of your child safety seat or seatbelt doesn't allow your locking latchplate to hold the
seatbelt tight. If you can pull the seatbelt webbing back through the latchplate once it is buckled,
use a locking clip.
39

40. LockingClips(ctd.)
A locking clip should not be used under the following circumstances:
• If your retractor locks
• If your latchplate locks and holds the child safety seat tight
• If you are installing your child safety seat using the LATCH system
• NEVER use a locking clip with a lap-only seatbelt. A locking clip is designed to hold a child safety
seat tight during normal use. In a crash, it is designed to pop off the seatbelt as the retractor kicks
in. The retractor will then hold the child safety seat tight. A lap-belt does not have a retractor.
Therefore, if the restraint is loose without the locking clip, it will be loose in the crash. If your lap-
belt has an ELR, use a belt-shortening clip.
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41. ChildSafetySeatInstallation-Seatbelt
After determining the type of latchplate and retractor that is present, a child safety seat
can be installed:
• Note the belt path to be used to secure the child safety seat
• Infant-only seats usually have one belt path. If a detachable base is present, it will also have a belt path.
• Convertible seats have one belt path for rear-facing and another for forward-facing. Determine which
path to use and follow the manufacturer's directions for installation.
• Getting a secure fit for a child safety seat can pose a challenge
• Once the safety belt is holding the seat in place, check for extra movement of the safety seat.
• Always check for movement by pulling at the place where the child safety seat is anchored by the vehicle
belt.
• Make sure to get a tight fit, with less than 1 inch of side-to-side or forward motion.
41

42. Child safety seats in vehicles manufactured after September 2002 come with the Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. The LATCH system was designed to
make it easier for parents to install child safety seats. Most LATCH-equipped vehicles
have lower anchors in the left and right rear seat positions:
• The three LATCH anchor points can be on the floor, under the seat, or even on the ceiling. Always
check the vehicle's owner manual to be sure that the correct tether anchor is used.
ChildSafetySeatInstallation-LATCHSystem
42

43. The system that gives the most secure installation
should be used:
• If the vehicle and the safety seat are LATCH-equipped and
secure installation using the LATCH system is possible, use the
LATCH system.
• If your vehicle is not LATCH-equipped or a secure installation
using the LATCH system is not possible, use the seatbelt.
• Unless indicated by the instructions on the child safety seat
and the owner's manual for the vehicle, do not use the LATCH
system and seatbelt system together - use one or the other.
ChildSafetySeatInstallation
43

44. • Read the child safety seat instruction book for the correct way to tighten the harness straps.
• If the child safety seat comes with a head roll or padding on the straps, it has been crash-tested
and is safe to use.
• Avoid aftermarket products that claim to hold the infant's head in position
• If needed, fill the spaces around the infant's head and body with rolled towels or a receiving blanket
• A rolled face cloth may provide padding for the strap between the legs, but nothing thicker than a rolled
receiving blanket or cloth diapers should be used for the crotch area
ChildSafetySeatInstallation(ctd.)
44

45. ChildSafetySeatUseAfteraCrash
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends seats be
replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level
of crash protection for child passengers. Seats do not automatically need to be replaced
following a minor crash:
• A minor crash is one in which ALL the following apply:
• The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
• The vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was not damaged;
• None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash;
• If the vehicle has airbags, the airbags did not deploy during the crash; and
• There is no visible damage to the child safety seat.
45
NEVER use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash.
Always follow manufacturers’ instructions.

46. Second-Hand/UsedChildSafetySeats
It is tempting to accept safety seats as hand-me-downs or to purchase them at a garage
sale or thrift shop. However, best practice is to avoid this, especially when:
• History of the seat is unknown
• Seat is on a recall list
• Seat is over 6 years old (many seats have an expiration date noted on a label)
• Labels are missing, especially FMVSS 213 compliance label
• Manufacturer’s instruction booklet on proper use is missing
• Damage to the seat’s structural integrity (hairline marks in plastic, cracks, loose rivets, etc.)
• Parts are missing or are in poor condition (harness straps, chest clip, padding, shield, tether straps,
and bolts), though replacement parts often can be ordered from the manufacturer
• Seat was previously involved in a crash
46
A child safety seat should NOT be used if the manufacturer is no longer in business.

47. Recalls
The registration card* that comes with a new child safety seat should be completed and
returned to the manufacturer.
In the event of a recall, the manufacturer will notify the owner of the safety seat
through the mail.
• Current information about child safety seat recalls, safety notices, and replacement parts can be
obtained via:
• Auto Safety Hotline: 888-DASH-2-DOT (888-327-4236)
• The child safety seat manufacturer
• NHTSA website: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ (* if registration card is lost, it can be retrieved from this site,
as well)
47

48. ChildSafetySeatSummary
• Always make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up
• Children 12 and under should ride, properly restrained, in the back seat
• A child should never be held in someone's arms or lap while in a moving vehicle
• Never use a child safety seat that has been in a moderate to severe crash
• Avoid using second-hand child safety seats
48

49. 49
Additional Vehicle
Safety Information

50. SafetyInandAroundVehicles
Children are at great risk for injury or death in incidents that do not involve crashes:
• Being left in hot vehicles
• Being in unattended vehicles
• Playing/walking around parked vehicles
50
In 2009 Jacob’s Law was established by the Texas state legislature requiring that all
caregivers receive two additional hours of training in transportation safety.

51. ChildrenLeftinHotVehicles
• Temperatures in hot vehicles rise very quickly: In
just 10 minutes the temperature can increase by
almost 20° (even mild outside temperatures can
pose a threat).
• Heatstroke, which can be fatal, can occur at body
temperatures above 104°.
• A child’s body temperature rises 3-5 times more
quickly than an adult’s, making children more
vulnerable to heatstroke.
• According to the National Safety Council,
approximately 25% of children who die from
vehicular heatstroke accidentally locked
themselves in a car or trunk. Make sure children
do not have access to vehicle keys.
51

52. ChildrenLeftinHotVehicles(ctd.)
Reduce the likelihood of leaving children in hot vehicles:
• Never leave young children alone in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open and
no matter how briefly.
• Make it a habit to “Look Before You Lock” – open the back door and check the back seat every
single time you drive your vehicle, even if you don’t normally transport your child.
• Always leave something you will need for the day in your backseat, such as your phone, purse, or
briefcase. The idea is that, if you didn’t get the item from the back seat, you would soon need to
use that item and would have to go back to the car to get it.
• If you are driving a van or bus, carefully check all seats to make sure there are no children sleeping
on the seats or hiding under the seats.
52

53. ChildrenLeftinHotVehicles(ctd.)
Reduce the likelihood of leaving children in hot vehicles:
• Do not let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them
that a vehicle is not a play area.
• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks; keep keys out of children's
reach.
• If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk or
storage area.
53
• If a child is in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child by
whatever means are available (First Aid for Heat Stroke). Call 911 or your local emergency
number immediately.

54. ChildrenLeftinUnattendedVehicles
• Children left alone in a vehicle with the engine running can accidently (or deliberately) set the
vehicle in motion.
• Use drive-thru services when available. Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
• Power windows can strangle a child or cut off a finger. Lock the power windows so that children
cannot get caught in them.
• Lock vehicles at all times, even in the garage or driveway.
• Never leave keys in the car.
• Store keys out of children’s reach.
• Engage your emergency break every time you park.
54

55. ChildrenAroundParkedVehicles
Children are at risk for both “backover” or “frontover” accidents in driveways or
parking lots, when they cannot be seen by the driver:
• Often the driver is a family member or friend.
• Backovers frequently happen when a child is in a blind spot, a place behind your vehicle that you
cannot see in the rearview or sideview mirrors, or even by craning your neck out the driver-side
window. Blind spots can vary or be affected by:
• Height of the driver's seat
• Shape of a vehicle's windows and mirrors
• Slope of a driveway
• Just a five-second walk around the car to check for children can save
a life.
55

56. Conclusion
Child safety seats protect children from injury and death due to motor vehicle crashes,
but the proper use of child safety seats can be a complex puzzle. Assembling the pieces
means:
• Making sure the safety seat is compatible with your vehicle;
• Knowing the types of latchplates and retractor systems and how they affect the installation of a
seat;
• Knowing the best placement of a seat;
• Knowing the age, weight, and height of a child; and
• Determining which seat to use based on this information.
There are also non-traffic incidents that put children at risk. It is important that
caregivers follow safety practices to protect children from the dangers in and around
vehicles.
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57. 57
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