www.TNTrafficSafety.org (links for training classes)

www.CarSeatSafety.kids - all Things Child Passenger Safety for CPS week - calendar of events, FAQs, Ages, Stages, TN Law, etc.

This episode of Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby Tennessee features Julie Brewer from the Tennessee Occupant Safety Center discussing child passenger safety during Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. Julie shares her 20-year journey in traffic safety and injury prevention, explaining the role of child passenger safety technicians and the four-day national certification process. The conversation focuses on common car seat installation mistakes, developmental stages for transitioning between rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats, and how parents can access professional car seat fitting assistance to ensure optimal protection for their children.

Key Takeaways

Proper car seat installation requires attention to three critical elements: using the top tether strap, ensuring snug harness fit, and locking the vehicle seatbelt in a fixed position to reduce crash injuries.

Parents should prioritize manufacturer instructions and avoid rushing children through car seat stages; rear-facing provides optimal protection for the head, neck, and spine regardless of age.

Child passenger safety technicians receive comprehensive national training covering vehicle systems, car seat mechanics, and communication skills across a four-day certification course.

Certified fitting stations and community outreach events provide accessible resources for parents to gain hands-on education and confidence in protecting their children during vehicle travel.

Quotable Moments

"I love the idea of helping kids stay safe."

"You don't know what you don't know."

"By fixing those three things, it would really reduce a lot of risk in the crash."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.