Healthcare Provider Teaching Tips

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Two-Minute Teachable Tips

Below are suggestions for topics to discuss at well-child visits or hospital discharge based on the child’s age. Links to web pages with more information on the topic are in pink. With a 95% misuse rate for car seats, encourage parents to find someone trained in their area to get the installation checked (note that most police and fire are NOT trained):

• http://cert.safekids.org/get-car-seat-checked
• http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm

Rear-Facing

• Snug Car Seat Straps (all visits)
• Proper Recline & Safe Head Position (Birth – 6M visits)
• Safe Car Seat Use OUT Of The Car (Birth – 15M visits)
• Transition From Infant Seat To Convertible Seat (6-18M visits)
• Rear-facing Until At Least 24 Months (9-24M visits)

Forward-Facing

• Encourage Rear-Facing (don’t assume kid is forward) (2-4Y visits)
• Tether EVERY Forward-Facing Car Seat (2-7Y visits)
• Snug Car Seat Straps (2-7Y visits)
• Readiness to Transition to a Booster (3-7Y visits)
• Back Seat vs Front Seat (3-7Y visits)

Booster Seats

• Readiness to Transition to Booster (3-7Y visits)
• How Boosters Work (4-12Y visits)
• Don’t Put Shoulder Belt Under Arm or Behind Back (4-12Y visits)
• Readiness to Stop Using Booster (5-12Y visits)
• Back Seat vs Front Seat (4-12Y visits)

Pre-Driving Teens & New Drivers

• Parents Modeling Safe Driving Behavior (all visits)
• Peer Passengers Are Risky (12Y+ visits)
• “Ride Like a Friend” (12Y+ visits)
• Distracted Driving (16Y+ visits)
  • Put phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode
  • Use Location Sharing to allow family to know driver’s location without needing to text/call the driver
• Buzzed & Drugged Driving (16Y+ visits)

Safer Cars

• Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) – standard since 2012 on all US vehicles
• Front Crash Avoidance Technology (Auto-brake)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) 
• Side Air Bags – get as many as you can, even if you have kids in back
• Avoid vehicles under 3,000 pounds
• Good crash test ratings from safercar.gov and iihs.org/ratings

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