When it comes to car seats, proper installation could mean the difference between life and death for your child.
However, installing them can be difficult, and some Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), as well as advocates, say it’s because of limited supports.
Just last week, Saskatchewan RCMP released a report stating that a “disheartening” number of children weren’t properly buckled in. So far this year in Manitoba, Mounties say the number is up to 74.
Rae Metcalfe, a parent as of 2017, said they didn’t know how to install the first car seat they bought, but at the time could access an inspection program led by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS).
“We actually went down to the fire department near us and had them look it over and make sure we had installed it correctly. We didn’t. So, the fireman fixed it all up and told us how to install it properly, because the instructions were very confusing to follow,” Metcalfe said.
That program shut down the same year and has yet to return.
A spokesperson from the WFPS said it was discontinued because of limited training to certify staff and increasing call volumes.
One resource available to parents and caregivers are CPSTs, but Erin Harder, one of two CPST instructor-trainers (CPST-ITs) in Manitoba, said there are only 11 across the province.
That’s a number which Shapka says is unsustainable, but will be difficult to surpass because of limited training and certification services.
“Training is tough because people in Manitoba were used to getting this as a free service. It’s not free, of course. Somebody is paying for it,” she said. “Since the government isn’t funding this on a provincial level anymore, it comes down to a very small number of instructors, myself included.”
Shapka said without funding, teaching a course on child passenger safety isn’t cheap.
Between renting a space, arranging travel, putting her dogs in a kennel, amongst other expenses, she said it’s not viable unless enough people were willing to pitch in enough cash.
“To be very honest, people don’t want to pay what it costs to teach a three-day course,” she said. “I’m happy to run courses when there is demand and interest. It’s just finding that demand and interest? It’s not there.”
However, “everybody remains at risk while these services are not available,” said Shapka, stressing that “families need support.”
Eran Jones, a New Brunswick mom whose personal tragedy motivates her national advocacy, said more support and education could have saved her children’s lives.
“Ten years ago, I was in a motor vehicle collision and two of my children and my sister-in-law passed away. Myself and my oldest son survived,” Jones said. “What I didn’t know then is that child passenger safety laws were already outdated at that point, and I was following the law.
“As a parent, you think that the laws in place are there to protect you, and in hindsight, they didn’t on that day.”
Jones said her 17-month-old son Trent was in a forward-facing seat when he should have been rear-facing, but at the time the laws didn’t reflect that.
She wants to see current laws on child passenger safety updated, and Shapka agrees.
“We’re actually partnered with Parachute, which is a national injury prevention organization, on an advocacy campaign right now lobbying all provincial governments and territorial governments to improve their child passenger safety laws because they’re largely insufficient,” said Shapka.
Legislation, confusing manuals and lack of inspection programs, aren’t the only barriers keeping children from safety.
Jones, Harder, and Metcalfe agree.
Harder said, “I’ve had quite a few newcomer families reach out to me.”
Jones said newcomers also make up a lot of her clientele, as well as lower-income families.
In the past year, she said she has helped over 150 families in New Brunswick — all for free.
Harder said her mission is similar.
“No matter where they come from or where they are, if they need help keeping their little travelers safe, at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
If you, or someone you know, isn’t needs to install a booster or car seat but isn’t sure how to, Harder says you can find techs on social media (like Facebook groups), CPSAC’s “find a tech” page, or by asking around.
Shapka said CPSAC also offers a two-to-three-hour online program for drivers.
“It’s certainly better than nothing. We do recommend it’s followed up with some in-person support–if you have access to that, of course,” she said.
MPI said they have online resources available as well.
Until you can talk to a CPST, Shapka gives her top five tips for child passenger safety:
- Don’t rush through the stages.
- Make sure your car seat is tightly installed to the car.
- For a rear-facing seat, make sure you have the recline correct so that a baby’s head and neck is supported.
- For a forward-facing seat, use the top tether, which protects against head injuries in a crash.
- Make sure the harness is not just tightly installed in the car, but tight on your child.
According to Winnipeg CPST Emily Casselman, some mistakes to look out for include:
- Using the lower anchors and the seatbelt at the same time (unless the car seat manual says it’s okay).
- Leaving the harness too loose (it should pass the pinch test).
- Having the chest clip too high or too low on your child’s abdomen (it should be in line with the armpits).
- Not adjusting the harness straps (for rear facing seats, harness straps should be at or below the shoulders. For front facing seats, harness straps should be at or above).
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