| A Child Passenger Safety Seat Check-Up Event is conducted to
educate families about the proper ways to transport their children more safely using child
safety seats and seat belts. Safety should be the number one priority for staff and
participants. To ensure the quality of Child Passenger Safety Seat Checks and limit
liability concerns, the following guidelines and recommendations have been established:
STAFFING AT CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK-UP EVENTS
Child safety seat check events should be staffed with specially trained persons who
will do the actual inspections and installations of child safety seats. Practitioners must
work with a certified technician when installing child safety seats. Every check event
should have at least one Senior Checker, the person who has the most training and/or
experience inspecting and installing child safety seats and seat belts. Whenever possible,
it is recommended that there be a Senior Checker for every three check up teams.
SENIOR CHECKER
- A Senior Checker is the person with the most training and/or
experience in installing and inspecting child safety seats. When possible, the Senior
Checker should be a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor.
- A Senior Checker should be a certified Technician ideally for at
least a year and/or have participated in a minimum of three child safety seat check events
after receiving certification from the National AAA.
- An Instructor can verify that a Technician is ready to be a Senior
Checker but it is not mandatory.
- The Senior Checker should always be available to all team members.
Therefore, it is not recommended that the Senior Checker conduct individual checks.
- The Senior Checker has the sole responsibility of approving child
restraint installations prior to the vehicle leaving the site.
The roles and responsibilities of the Senior Checker include:
- Supervise check-up teams to ensure checks are completed accurately and ensure child
safety seats are installed and used correctly.
- Do a final brief inspection of every vehicle prior to it leaving the checkpoint.
- Check the clinic checklist on each seat for completeness prior to allowing the team to
release the vehicle from the checkpoint.
- Assist checkers as needed on "gray issues" or difficult situations and help
checkers share appropriate information with parents, explaining "best practices"
and options so parents can make their own, informed choices about how best to transport
their children safely.
- Consult with clinic sponsor on criteria for distributing a new child safety seat.
- Assist check teams in deciding if a seat should be replaced or a free seat given out.
- Coordinate with host agency that all required material is available.
- Ensure that check teams are given breaks and refreshments.
- Ensure overall process is running smoothly.
CHECKER
- It is recommended that the Check Team work in pairs, whenever possible. (Two Technicians
or a Practitioner and a Technician).
- The Checker must have, at a minimum, completed an approved National Highway Traffic
Administration's standardized Child Passenger Safety Training.
The roles and responsibilities of the Checker include:
- Take primary responsibility for the inspection of the child safety seats and proper seat
belt use.
- Follow the checklist form carefully and fill in the information correctly.
- Instruct parents and caregivers on how to install child safety seats and to secure the
child.
- Assign tasks to Recorder or Runners as necessary.
- Consult with Senior Checker on "gray issues" or difficult situations.
- Consult with Senior Checker before offering a new child safety seat.
- Consult with Senior Checker, if possible, for final review of each vehicle.
- Make sure that the parent or caregiver installs the child safety seat before leaving the
check-up (Parent should be last one to install car seat).
- Document all information pertinent to each child safety seat inspection.
RECORDER
The Recorder does not require any specialized training but should know how to use the
check and recall lists and understand the importance of correct documentation.
The roles and responsibilities of the Recorder include:
- Responsible for reading checklist form to Checker and recording results.
- Locate the instructions for child safety seats or vehicle owners' manual when necessary.
- Search for the child safety seat on the recall list.
- Ensure that parents or caregivers have received hand-outs such as child passenger safety
brochures.
TRAFFIC FLOW COORDINATOR
- Responsible for making sure vehicles are safely moved in and out of the designated check
area.
- One should be assigned to the entrance and another to the exit.
- Ensure all occupants are buckled up while their vehicle is in motion.
- Discourage participants from holding children on their lap when moving the vehicle.
Unless the wait is too long, encourage parent to leave the child in their seat so the
technician can make sure the child is positioned in the seat properly.
GREETER
- Responsible for welcoming people, explaining the process, and making sure that
preliminary information is completed on the checklist forms, especially the
parent/caregiver's signature on the waiver.
- Keep families informed of how long the wait will be.
RUNNER
- Responsible for assisting Check up teams as needed.
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