Tech Update – June 2005

RE-CERTIFICATION TIPS

  • You may re-certify up to four months before your certification expiration date.
  • Seat checks may be logged at any time during your certification cycle and must be approved before you can register for re-certification.
  • You must complete registration no later than your certification expiration date.
  • Once your re-certification registration is processed, you will have 30 days to complete the online exam.
  • The test does not have to be completed by your certification expiration date.

Source: CPS Express, April 2005

8-HOUR RENEWAL COURSE OFFERED

The 8-Hour Certification Renewal Course is offered for previously certified technicians who have let their certifications expire. After successfully completing the 8-Hour course, technicians must go online and register to take the 100 question re-certification exam. After completing the exam with a grade of 85 or above, certification will be re-instated.

  • September 8, 2005 – College Station

For information contact Bev Kellner at bkellner@ag.tamu.edu or 979-862-1782 or Myrna Boren at mrboren@ag.tamu.edu or 432-943-3419.

NEW CPS LEGISLATION PASSED

A new child passenger safety law has been passed and signed by the Governor. This new legislation increases the age limit required for child safety restraints from 4 years to 5 years old. The wording is changed from 4 years old or under 36 inches to 5 years old and less than 36 inches. Before only one condition needed to be met, now both conditions are required. The new law is scheduled to go into effect on September 1, 2005.

Here are excerpts from the text of the law passed by the Texas Legislature (The previous wording is shown in brackets):

SECTION 1. Section 545.412 Transportation Code

(a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than five [four] years of age and [or] less than 36 inches in height, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution of an offense to which this section applies that the defendant provides to the court evidence satisfactory to the court that the defendant possesses an appropriate child passenger safety seat system for each child required to be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section 545.412(a).

SECTION 4. Section 545.413(b), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) operates a passenger vehicle that is equipped with safety belts; and (2) allows a child who is [at least five years of age but ] younger than 17 years of age [or who is younger than five years of age] and who is not required to be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section 545.412(a) [at least 36 inches in height] to ride in the vehicle without requiring the child to be secured by a safety belt, provided the child is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt.

The entire legislation can be found online at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB183.

TECHNICIANS AND SCHOOL BUSES

The DPS School Bus Transportation division offers an 8-hour training for school bus personnel as well as others who are interested in learning how to select and install a child safety seat on a school bus. They will be offering a newly developed 4-hour course for technicians only that will focus on the installation issues in a school bus. Please contact Charley Kennington for details.

The following 8-hour courses are offered:

Choice of Class Dates:

  • August 23, 2005
  • September 20, 2005

Location:

  • Texas Department of Public Safety
    1617 East Crest Drive
    Waco, Texas

Agenda:

  • Classroom 9:30 am to 11:30 am
  • Lunch 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
  • Hands On Activity 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

For more information call the school transportation unit at 254-759-7111. To register for one of the classes, please fax the completed registration form to 254-759-7235.

Many technicians are getting questions from school transportation staff asking for assistance with installing child safety seats on school buses. Because the installation of child safety seats on a school bus is very different than in passenger vehicles, it best to contact the office of the Texas Department of Public Safety that specializes in school bus transportation issues. Contact information for the Program Administrator is as follows:

Charley Kennington
Program Administrator
School Bus Transportation
1617 East Crest Drive
Waco, TX 76705-1598
254-759-711
254-759-7238 fax
E-mail: charley.kennington@txdps.state.tx.us

LATCH SYSTEM WARNING - UNUSED SAFETY BELTS

It has been reported that two young children have had unfortunate experiences with unused safety belts while their child safety seats were secured to a vehicle using the LATCH system.

Apparently, the children were able to wrap the safety belts around their necks and, in so doing, activate the automatic locking retractor (ALR), making it impossible for them to extricate themselves from the safety belt. It is reported that one child died in a non-crash situation, while another was injured when the car was in motion.

Parents and caregivers should:

1. Be sure the child's harness passes the "pinch" test, thus potentially restricting a child of any age from accessing the safety belt.

The "pinch" test is done by placing the harness correctly on the child according to the manufacturer's instructions and tightening the harness so the adult is unable to "pinch" any excess webbing at the chest. This simple test assures that the harness is adequately snug on the child's body.

2. Teach children to view safety belts as vehicle safety devices, not toys.

AND PERFORM ONE OF THESE TWO OPTIONS:

1. Buckle the safety belt behind the LATCH-secured child safety seat.

OR

2. Use the safety belt to secure the child safety seat and discontinue LATCH use.

Source: National SAFE KIDS Campaign, website at: http://www.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=18270&folder_id=183

CPS RESOURCES

CPS Participant Manual Now Available

The 2004 Participant’s Manual for the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program is available for $35. The price includes shipping to the lower 48 states. The order form will be available at http://www.800bucklup.org.

To order in bulk, for shipping costs on orders sent outside the continental U.S. or for more information, call (425) 828-8975 or e-mail office@800BUCKLUP.org.

The Safety Restraint Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and proceeds will support Washington’s child passenger safety programs.

NOTE: You may download the current CPS technician manual from the National CPS Board.

CPS Technicians Liability Insurance

NOTE: Liability insurance is (1) not required and (2) SAFE KIDS is not affiliated with this agency.

While most activities related to child passenger safety are covered by an employer or by the agency sponsoring the event or training, there are those who need to carry their own professional liability insurance. SAFE KIDS, as the certifying body for the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program, does not offer liability insurance for individual technicians and instructors.

Healthcare Providers Service Organization, a nationwide insurance provider for more than 25 years, does offer such a policy for nationally certified child passenger safety technicians. The insurance is available to individuals who are permanently employed in a related field or who work solely on a volunteer basis and receive no remuneration for any CPS activities in which they participate. As of September 2004, the insurance is no longer available for individuals who are self-employed, working in any field related to child passenger safety.

The annual premium for an employed or volunteer CPST is approximately $85.00 per year. Application can be made online at http://www.hpso.com/, or call 800-982-9491.

Submitted by Ces Murphy, West Coast Field Organizer, National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Source: CPS Express, April 2005

New Edition of the LATCH/Tether Manual Available

The fourth edition of LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Child Restraints is available now. It is a completely new edition that does more than just include information on 2004 and 2005 products. It is designed specifically for CPS Technicians.

The new edition is user-friendly, with summaries and quick reference lists of key product features. The text provides extensive coverage of various misuses of the LATCH system and a full explanation of key emerging issues, such as:

  • Using LATCH anchors in the center rear seat with non-standard spaced lower anchor bars
  • Easy access to tether anchors and the importance of encouraging tether use
  • Using tether anchors for child restraints above the maximum weight listed by the vehicle manufacturers

Vehicle pages are now organized by brand name (for example, Pontiac or Lincoln) instead of by manufacturer. We have added the name of the vehicle brand at the top right of each right-hand page, making it easier to find the brand you are looking for.

The fourth edition is available at the same price as the last two editions, $24.95. Discounts are available for bulk orders of three or more books. Please contact SRN Publications at 800-403-1424, or print out the order form at http://www.saferidenews.com/. Credit cards and purchase orders are accepted. If leaving a voice mail message, please include a fax number to obtain an order form.

Source: Deborah Davis Stewart, SAFE RIDE NEWS (Shoreline, Washington)

New CSS Questionnaire Available

In case you haven't seen it, NHTSA has updated their Child Safety Seat Questionnaire (also known as the Child Seat Complaint Form) and made it available to consumers on their website.

Consumers can download or print it to report potential problems, defects or incidents with child safety seats. While it includes Business Reply Mail postage, consumers may also fax completed forms to (202) 366-3171.

Of course, child restraint issues can also be reported to NHTSA through the Auto Safety Hotline (1-888-327-4236; 202-366-0123).

Source: CPS Express, June 21, 2005

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Last updated: 26 July, 2010

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