News – Page 10 – Safe Ride News

In Memory and Appreciation of Annemarie Shelness 1922 — 2017

April 30, 2017September 3, 2018

Although many of today’s CPSTs may not know the name Annmarie Shelness, we all owe her an enormous debt of gratitude. She was among the very first to recognize and take action to address the unacceptable risks to children on America’s roadways—efforts that spurred the field of child passenger safety. In addition to publishing landmark scholarly papers, lobbying Congress, and serving on technical committees at the highest level, Annemarie Shelness was committed to educating caregivers. She generously gave her time to nurture other advocates, many of whom are leaders in our field today.

The CPS Paper That Started It All

April 30, 2017July 28, 2018

Sure, most CPSTs recall a childhood in which CRs were not routinely used, and many worked in the field before the formality of a certification program. Nonetheless, it can be eye-opening to reflect on a time—less than 45 years ago—when child passenger safety was a fledgling concept taken up by just a handful of concerned citizens.

CRs May Help Prevent In-Flight Injuries

February 28, 2017August 6, 2018

CPSTs know that children on aircraft are better protected from injury when riding in an approved CR due to the potential of turbulence or crashes. Recently, a new study identified an additional reason: in-flight medical emergencies. In particular, the researchers (three doctors from U.S. universities and hospitals) looked at the in-flight injuries (IFIs, typically trauma or burns) that children sustained. They found such incidents to be infrequent relative to the number of such events to all passengers, but not negligible. Their takeaway: The protection CRs can provide with respect to potential IFIs can expand their in-flight benefits beyond during takeoff, landing, and turbulence.

Car Seat Shopping Guide for Small and Premature Infants

January 1, 2017August 4, 2018

Small babies and those with special needs due to prematurity or other medical conditions will not fit well in all car seats sold for newborns. Selection must consider both proper harness fit and the manufacturer’s lowest weight limit rating.

LATCH-Related CR Recalls —ARCHIVE

Excerpted from the 2015 LATCH Manual

December 31, 2016July 2, 2019

The following LATCH-related child restraint recalls are excerpted from the 2015 LATCH Manual* ((The most current LATCH Manual is the 2019 edition; outdated versions should not be used.)) and include only those CR recalls and consumer advisories that affect CRs that are expired as of January 2017. They were omitted from the 2017 and newer LATCH Manuals because the publisher does not want to imply that users should continue to use expired child restraints.

Retrofitting Tether Anchors

Still a Benefit to Child Safety

December 31, 2016July 2, 2019

In preparation for the 2017 LATCH Manual* ((The most current LATCH Manual is the 2019 edition; outdated versions should not be used.)), SRN reviewed and updated the status of various aspects of retrofitting vehicles with tether anchors (TAs), leading to the following update report.

It’s Time to Think About Autonomous Vehicles

November 1, 2016April 12, 2021

I’d have to have my head planted firmly in the sand if my initial skepticism about self-driving vehicles hasn’t budged over time. In a few short years, what has gone from bold predictions by certain tech giants has developed into mainstream acceptance. Target dates for various rollouts of autonomous vehicles seem right around the corner, rather than in some sci-fi future. In September, the DOT released safety guidelines for autonomous vehicle performance, including a model for state policies.

Steps for Addressing the Use of Inflatable Seat Belts (ISBs) With CRs

October 31, 2016July 2, 2019

ISBs have been an available option in the outboard seating position of some Ford and Lincoln vehicles for the past five years. Over that time, the number of Ford/Lincoln models with this option has grown (see current list, at bottom of page) and now includes both two- and three-row vehicles.

Canada Weighs in Against Routine CR Screening of Preterm Infants

August 31, 2016February 23, 2023

Based on a review of research related to the infant car seat challenge (ICSC), the Canadian Paediatric Society (CaPS, Canada’s version of the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP) has issued a revised position statement. It now says that insufficient evidence exists to recommend routine use of the ICSC as part of discharge procedures for preterm infants.

Debate in the NICU Continues: What’s a CPST to Think When Doctors Disagree?

August 31, 2016August 4, 2018

As readers know, I am not a doctor. Occasionally, though, as CPSTs we must consider certain medical conditions that influence the safety or children as vehicle passengers. Fortunately, there’s no need for CPSTs to hold a medical degree; simply follow the advice of doctors regarding the relevant symptoms of a diagnosis and how they might influence a child’s safety (either in a crash or during normal riding). To guide us, we are fortunate to have peer-reviewed scientific studies and policy statements from the medical community.

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