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Safe Native American Passengers. An Intro to Safely Transporting Native Children Bridget Canniff & Luella Azule NPAIHB Injury Prevention Program. Why SNAP?. Low AI/AN restraint use Crashes can happen at any time Can help prevent injuries Can make a difference. SNAP ≠ certification training.
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Safe Native American Passengers An Intro to Safely Transporting Native ChildrenBridget Canniff & Luella AzuleNPAIHB Injury Prevention Program
Why SNAP? • Low AI/AN restraint use • Crashes can happen at any time • Can help prevent injuries • Can make a difference
SNAP ≠ certification training • Today’s presentation: introduction to SNAP • Even with full SNAP course, you will NOT be able to: • Serve as a technical expert • Teach SNAP • Only certified CPS technicians can teach SNAP course
Guiding Principles Learn Practice Explain
Best Practices & Tough Choices • Best practices • Explain best practice options • Tough Choices • Sometimes, no clear answers • Give options • Vehicles not designed for child restraints • Safer choices Tough choices should always be made by the parent/caregiver
The Cradleboard • Important part of Native culture • Fine for general use • Always use child safety seat for transporting children
Car Seat Recommendations NHTSA • Keep children in appropriate restraint as long as possible before moving them up to the next type American Academy of Pediatrics • Keep kids in rear-facing restraints until age 2 or highest weight/height allowed by seat manufacturer
Car Seat Recommendations • Read child seat manufacturers' instructions & vehicle owner's manual • Important info on height & weight limits, how to install using seat belt or LATCH system • All children under 13 should ride in back seat • Children in rear-facing car seats should never ride in front of active passenger airbag
Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries • Leading cause of death for American Indians & Alaska Natives • More children ages 1-16 die from crashes than any other cause
Challenges to Crash Survival • Non-use • Misuse • Use decreases as children get older • Outdated or incorrect educational materials
Why Restrain Children? • Larger heads • Smaller bodies • Soft skull bones • Rounded hip bones • Weak stomach muscles • Vehicles built for adults
How Restraints Prevent Injury • Keep people in the vehicle • Hold where body is strongest • Spread out crash forces • Help body to slow down • Protect head & spine
You Can’t Survive Every Crash • Some crashes too violent to survive • Many factors determine outcome • Restraints & airbags give best chance of survival
Common Myths “I’m not driving very far” “It’s better to be thrown clear” “I can hold my baby in a crash” “Restraints are uncomfortable” “I’m a good driver, so I won’t get into a crash”
Seat Belt & Child Safety Seat Laws • 33 states have primary seatbelt laws, 16 have secondary laws • All 50 states have child restraint laws • Some Reservationshave their own Passenger Transportation Safety laws
Local Laws: Seat Belts What’s the seat belt law in your tribal community? A) Tribal law: primary B) Tribal law: secondary C) Community follows state law D) No law E) Unsure / Don’t Know
Local Laws: Child Safety Seats Does your tribal community have a child safety seat law? A) Yes: tribal law B) No: follows state law C) Unsure / Don’t Know
Why Use Restraints? • Studies show restraints reduce: • Injury severity by 60% • Hospital admissions by 69% • Treatment costs by 66% • Use seatbelts! • Use child restraints! • You could save lives!
Types of Child Restraints • Infant (rear-facing only) • Convertible (rear-facing & forward-facing) • Forward-facing only (harness & combination) • Boosters (belt-positioning) • Special needs restraints • Seat belts
What’s the Best Child Restraint? • Fits the child • Fits the vehicle • Used correctly every time
Elements of Correct Installation • Selection: right seat? • Direction: front or rear-facing? • Location: where is the child safest? • Installation: right belt path/LATCH?
Installation Check List • Select correct child seat for weight & height • Place in back seat of vehicle • Use only one method to install car seat • Install car seat • Tighten vehicle belt or lower anchor attachment (LATCH) • Buckle child into car seat
LATCH System • Easy install • Vehicles since 2000 • Read the vehicle & CR manuals
Post 2/27/14 LATCH • After February 2014, car seats installed with LATCH should have MAXIMUM combined weight limit of seat + child = 65 lbs • Requirement only apply to lower anchors, doesn’t include top tethers • Belt positioning booster seats using LATCH are not included in the new requirements because: • The seat belt is what is restraining child in booster • LATCH only keeps seat in place when unoccupied, to protect other passengers
Seat Belt Components Anchor Webbing Latchplate Buckle Retractors
Airbag Systems • Reduce injury • For use with seatbelts • Children <13 in back seat • Turn OFF airbag if CR must be used in front seat
Consider These CR Issues • Safety • Label • Expiration • History • Recall • Compatibility • Convenience • Comfort
Important! • Read instruction book & vehicle owner’s manual for proper installation instructions • Mail in seat registration card
Seat Parts & Functions Harness slots Shell/ frame Retainer clip Belt path Harness straps Harness adjuster Buckle
Seat Parts & Functions Harness slots Harness adjuster plate Labels
Rear-Facing Seats • Best Practice: Until 2+ years • OR • Until upper limit of CR’s height & weight recommendations • 3-point or 5-point harness at or below shoulder
Why Rear-Facing Until Age 2? • Large, heavy heads • Small, flexible shoulders • Bones not fully developed
Rear-Facing Convertible • Rear-facing up to 30 pounds or more, then forward-facing • Reclined position • Harness at or below shoulder level
Forward-Facing Seats • 2+ years or when child reaches height & weight limits of rear-facing seat • Weight limits between 22-85+ pounds, depending on manufacturer • Use until child’s ears reach top of seat
Belt Positioning Boosters • Use with lap/ shoulder belt only • Head restraint needed • Shoulder belt positioners • Use the 5 Step Test
The 5-Step Test • Child against the vehicle seat? • Knees bend at the edge? • Belt crosses shoulder between neck & arm? • Lap belt low across hips? • Child can stay seated for whole trip? If No to any Booster seat is needed If Yesto all Ready for adult seat belt
Reasons for Incorrect Installation • Don’t understand dangers • Don’t take time • Instructions missing • Don’t read instructions • Restraints don’t fit vehicle
Misuse: Child Safety Seats • Retainer clip not at armpit level • Loose harness • Twisted harness or frayed/damaged webbing • Restraint has been in a crash • In seat belt too soon
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm Shoulder belt behind back
Misuse: Seat Belts Shoulder belt under arm Shoulder belt behind back Lap belt too high Belt too loose
Wrap-Up: What We’ve Learned • Low restraint use in AI/AN communities • Everyone should buckle up • Selection, direction, location & installation important • Best CR fits child, fits vehicle, used correctly every time • Learn correct use, recognize misuse • Practice= confidence
Additional Resources • www.nhtsa.gov • www.safekids.org • www.nsc.org • www.carseat.org
Luella Azule (Yakima Nation/Umatilla) Injury Prevention Coordinator lazule@npaihb.org 503-416-3263 QUESTIONS?THANK YOU!