New CRs 2

Curriculum Update 3

New LATCH Limits 3

GTIPI Training Dates 4

Inside This Issue

Volume IX

Issue I

March 2014 Tech Talk

Did you know?

If you’re not sure

when you expire,

you can check your

Safe Kids profile by

logging on to

cert.safekids.org

GTIPI can advertise

your Fitting Station

or Check Event!

Email the event

details to

gtipi@uga.edu

Safe Kids Day is in

April. Contact your

local coalition for

more information.

Together we can

make a difference!

Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructors

from across the state gathered on February

18th for the Annual Statewide CPST Instruc-

tor Meeting at the Georgia Public Safety

Training Center in Forsyth. This year’s event

featured presentations from representatives of

the National CPS Board, the Georgia Depart-

ment of Public Health, GTIPI, Evenflo, and

Chicco. Following a warm welcome from the

Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway

Safety, Harris Blackwood, CPSTIs received a

wealth of new information which can be used

to train techs in Georgia.

The day began with discussion of a change to

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213

and its implications for educating technicians

and families about using lower anchors and

tethers. Since the change, most child restraint

and vehicle manufacturers recommend discon-

tinuing the use of LATCH when the combined

child and car seat weight reach 65 pounds.

Next, Sarah Haverstick, CPS Board Chair,

shared an inside look at the brand new CPST

certification course to familiarize instructors

with the revised material. CPSTIs also received

a statistical update detailing trends in child pas-

senger injuries and fatalities from Wende Par-

ker of the Department of Public Health.

Presentations from CR manufacturers rounded

out the yearly meeting. Kent Newbright and

Patsy Pilcher of Evenflo introduced attendees

to the latest technology included on their car

seats, such as the TruTether Adjuster that

changes colors to let parents know the tether is

tight enough. A representative of Chicco, Julie

Prom, presented details on her company’s seats

like the NextFit convertible which features a

two-position retainer clip that grows with child-

ren.

Overall, the 2014 Statewide CPST Instructor

Meeting was considered a success that will

benefit educators in upcoming trainings. The

next time you encounter a CPSTI, ask for even

more details about the topics discussed at this

year’s event.

Instructors Receive Technical Update at

Annual Meeting Ashley Phillips CPSTI

PAGE 2 MARCH 2014

Kiddy Brings Harness-Free Seat Stateside Reshma Punjani, CPSTI

A German manufacturer of juvenile products such as child

restraints, strollers, and other accessories has introduced a

unique combination car seat. One of Kiddy’s newest seats, the

Kiddy World Plus is an FMVSS 213 certified device that se-

cures a child without the use of an internal harness.

The World Plus is an innovative seat because rather than using

the typical harness found in most forward-facing seats, this

child restraint uses a protection shield that absorbs force during

a crash. Although this seat is so different due to the absence of

the harness, it has been crash tested and meets the federal perf-

ormance standard. The basis of this design is the fact that dur-

ing a frontal crash, pressure is placed on the child's head and

spine area. With the Kiddy World Plus protection shield, the

force of the crash is absorbed by the cushioned bar that holds

the child in place. Consider the details of the World Plus:

“Toddler Car Seat Use” mode with the protection shield

for children over age one weighing 22-40 pounds

Booster seat mode without the protection shield for child-

ren weighing 40-110 pounds

Additional insert cushion for children 22-30 pounds

Can be installed using LATCH or the seat belt

Removable cover

Lightweight: weighs about 15 pounds

Adjustable headrest with 12

different positions

For more information or to see

a video on the crash tests of this

seat compared to harnessed

seats, visit kiddyusa.com

DISCLAIMER: Trade and brand names are used only for information, and descriptions are those of the manufacturers. The University of Georgia Extension, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

and College of Family & Consumer Sciences, does not guarantee nor warrant published standards on any product mentioned, neither does the use of a trade or brand name imply approval of any product to the

exclusion of others which may also be suitable.

Evenflo Balances Safety, Style in Symphony DLX All-In-One Babatunde Fahm, MPH, CPST

the impact from side impact crashes.

This seat also offers longevity in use

from birth to booster mode up to 110

pounds.

Aside from SureLATCH and the basic

features, such as an adjustable head re-

straint and 5-point harness, this seat also

provides the innovative e3 Side Impact

protection, a harness rated for use up to

65 pounds, Infinite Slide harness adjust-

ment, energy absorbing foam in head

and body pillows, and converts to a

booster. There is also an integrated cup

holder for the child’s convenience and

machine-washable seat padding for any

spills along the way.

It may seem that the only thing missing

from this child restraint is a Shiatsu

Massage Cushion, which we may see on

the next model; you’ll just have to stay

tuned to find out!

Visit Evenflo.com for more information

on the Symphony.

Evenflo has released its new, all-in-one

seat: the Symphony DLX. The seat

adapted comfort and style with safety,

and is advertised as the easiest seat to

install, featuring self-retracting

SureLATCH connectors. With just two

clicks and a push, this seat is installed in

only 60 seconds with no pulling neces-

sary. The design of this seat with ad-

vanced energy absorption and expanded

zone of protection significantly reduces

Details:

Rear-facing: 5-40 lbs.

Forward-facing: 22-65 lbs.

Booster: 40-110 lbs.

Buckle pockets prevent burns in

hot cars

“Infinite Slide” harness does not

require re-threading

MARCH 2014 PAGE 3

Tether attachments and lower anchor attachments are now

called tether connectors and lower anchor connectors.

Rather than use the word LATCH, techs are encouraged to

use complete terminology for lower anchors and tethers.

Current CPSTs will not receive a new copy of the manual, but

the new full color Technician Guide will be available on the

National Child Passenger Safety Board website at

www.cpsboard.org. Techs are encouraged to review the new

curriculum to understand the changes.

For additional information and helpful videos on various child

passenger safety topics, visit the CPS Board website and follow

the link for “Tech + Instructor Curriculum.”

As of March 2014, the Child Passenger Safety Technician cert-

ification course curriculum has been revised and updated. As

CPSTs, you must be wondering if and how the curriculum up-

date impacts you. In addition to an overhaul of the participant

manual’s organization, the biggest change current CPSTs will

encounter with the curriculum is updated terminology.

Becoming familiar with the new terms will allow you to work

more easily with technicians recently certified through the up-

dated training. You may hear new CPSTs mention some of the

following points they learn in this revised course:

The four step process for correct use has been supplement-

ed with an additional fifth step and now includes selection,

direction, location, installation and harnessing.

Due to the fact that many infant-only car seats can be used

beyond the first birthday, they are now referred to as rear-

facing only seats.

2014 CPST Curriculum Revision: What It Means for You Reshma Punjani, CPSTI

Rule Change Results in New LATCH Limits Babatunde Fahm MPH, CPST

As technology advances, allowing kids

to stay in harnesses longer, concern has

grown that lower anchors may not be

strong enough to restrain larger children

in equally heavy child restraints during

severe crashes. Both the seat and child

will exert force on the lower anchor bars

during a crash, and this change reflects

the need to consider both. In addition to

improving safety for children, the update

to FMVSS 213 has another goal of simp-

lifying LATCH for parents by naming

one blanket weight limit. Prior to the

change, maximum weight limits for low-

er anchor and tether use varied by vehi-

cle manufacturer.

While most car makers have adopted the

so-called “65 Pound Rule,” some are

Changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safe-

ty Standard 213, effective February 27,

have significant practical implications

for teaching families about lower an-

chors and tethers for children. The Na-

tional Highway Traffic Safety Admin-

istration has ruled that manufacturers

must advise owners that a child restraint

with a harness should not be installed

using LATCH if the combined weight of

the child and the child restraint exceeds

65 pounds. If a caregiver is using

LATCH in the manner above against

manufacturer instructions, CPSTs should

recommend discontinuing use of lower

anchors and tethers and switch to a seat

belt installation. There has also been a

change to labels, which will inform care-

givers when to make that switch.

also recommending the same advice ret-

roactively to existing vehicles. Since

parents are probably not familiar with the

weight of their child restraints, NHTSA

has required manufacturers to include the

raw weight of the seat on its label. When

searching for weights of car seats pro-

duced before this rule change, CPSTs

may make use of the 2013 LATCH Man-

ual, a handy resource available through

Safe Ride News. The new labels and

LATCH Manual can equip technicians,

parents, and other caregivers with the

information needed to make the safest

decision.

For more details about the change or to

order a LATCH Manual, visit

saferidenews.com.

Need another copy of your CPST card? Go to cert.safekids.org and log in.

At the bottom of your profile page, click the link that states

“Click here for Your Wallet Card/Certificate.”

CPS Basic Awareness

July 22 Conyers

CPST Renewal (Recently expired technicians ONLY)

April 16 Conyers

Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. Instructor Certification

May 13 Conyers June 10 Conyers

Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. Instructor Re-Certification

Webcasts are available online monthly

CarFit Event Coordinator and Technician Certification

April 2-3 Conyers

Child Passenger Safety Technician

April 8-11 Tifton

April 22-24 Conyers

May 6-9 Savannah

May 20-22 Byron

June 3-6 Athens

CPST CEU Workshop

April 7 Webcast

April 17 Conyers

May 1 Statesboro

May 5 Webcast

GTIPI Training Dates

PAGE 4 MARCH 2014

NHTSA’s “4 Steps for Kids” recommendations for using child safety seats using best practice guidelines.

Visit carseatsafety.gov for more information.

Register online at www.ridesafegeorgia.org

Child Passenger Safety

Are you spreading the word?

Best Practice Saves Lives