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Fall 2015 News from CPSAC
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Fall 2015 News from CPSAC
Keeping members connected from coast to coast to coast
Oh Canada!
With the recent certification of our very first technician in Saskatchewan, CPSAC can now boast members in every province and territory -- a truly national organization.

Thanks to Wendy Silva for producing this map; click here for a zoomable image
What’s in a name?

CPSAC members are currently known as Children’s Restraint System Technicians (CRSTs). We have received feedback from members and parents that our title is hard to remember and/or difficult to understand. We are considering a change to something more accessible.

Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) seems like the most obvious choice. We are the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada, after all, and Child Passenger Safety Technician is a more complete description of the work we do.

This change would require an adjustment period. Our documentation and certificates would not be changed overnight, but if this is a change that the membership supports, then we will begin the transition.

Using the links below please tell us how much you would you like to see our title change (click on your preference):
 I prefer the title CRST
 I like CRST better, but I would be okay with changing
 I do not care either way
 I prefer CPST, but I would be okay with staying the same
 I prefer CPST and would like to change the title
Results will be tallied and will be reported in the next newsletter.

Note: If we do change the title, your CRST certificate will still be valid. We will only issue new certificates as members recertify.
CPSAC Gear
Interest in CPSAC-branded clothing has exceeded our expectations. You are encouraged to wear your shirts, hoodies, and hats at checks, clinics, presentations and any time you are promoting child passenger safety.  There will be another order before the end of the year.

Patches 
Many of you wanted to order CPSAC-branded items other than the polos, hoodies, and hats. Here’s your chance! We are ordering patches. You may apply your patches to red, white or black t-shirts, outerwear, hats and bags. You may also apply them to safety vests or coalition-branded apparel of any colour. Orders are open now and patches are expected to ship in mid-October.
Patches and a few other bonus items are available for order here
Insurance reminder

Your membership includes insurance that covers you for child passenger safety activities you undertake on a volunteer basis including private checks, public clinics, and educational presentations. Donations may be accepted.

If you wish to charge for your services, CPSAC members have access to an affordable rate through our insurer, LMS Prolink. More insurance information can be found here.
Myth Busting!

Old habits die hard, and when some of us work alone or in remote parts of the country it can be hard to know what not to do. We are here to bridge that gap and support you where you need it. 

The following practices are not supported by manufacturers or CPSAC’s curriculum and can be read in more detail here:
  • Climbing on or standing in seats to install them: manufacturers do not direct to stand or climb in a seat to install. Instead of using force which could damage a car seat, teach the parents to use body positioning, technique and leverage to achieve an installation.
  • Cutting or removing parts from seats: technicians should not be removing any part from a seat. If a parent chooses to do so -- for example removing the UAS “pigtail” -- document accordingly.
  • Over tightening a top tether strap: remove excess slack from the tether strap. Do not test for movement at the top of a seat, and do not tighten a tether so much that the upholstery or fabric is damaged.
  • Crotch roll use should not be common practice: while it is necessary to ensure proper positioning of an infant to protect the airway, always consult the manual for how to position and route the crotch buckle. If the infant can not maintain position due to a gap between the crotch buckle and the crotch then a crotch roll may be appropriate.  Consult the manufacturer for guidance.
  • Infant padding: infant padding and inserts may be required for proper and safe positioning or optional and only for comfort. Read the manual carefully to know when/if padding or inserts must be used or removed. 
  • Installation versus education: remember that we should always strive to teach the parents to install the seat rather than installing for them. Give them the confidence and the skills to do it right for years to come.  
Technician Spotlight

My name is Paula. I have been a NICU nurse for more than 30 years and I have been the “Safety Queen” for my whole life. I am a rule follower. I checked car seats in my job on a daily basis for years. I made sure the baby was in tight and the seat wasn’t expired. That is all there is to it, right?  Then the day came when the seat was not tight.  It was an American seat and nothing we did would make that baby fit. I sought help from Child Safety Link and they DID make me realize how little I knew. That day, almost 8 years ago, changed my life. I became a Technician and obsessed with car seats and the safety of the babies/children riding in them.

Now, years later, I still check seats on a daily basis. Parents get a full car seat lesson on the basics of use and installation. First, their seat is checked over from top to bottom, and we show them how to fit their baby in the seat. I often deal with very small babies, so they don’t often fit perfectly in their seats, but we give them tips on making them safer.

I also teach other nurses (and sometimes doctors and social workers, etc.) the basics for car seats. I have worked with Child Safety Link to make up a “Nurse’s Cheat Card” with a brief summary of all the things to look for in the seat. Last year, I was honoured to do a 45-minute presentation at a national conference (Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses) with attendance from hospitals across the Maritimes.

My experience is different from other techs in that I mostly check only infant carriers. The only installations I do are a few clinics a year and my own grandchildren’s seats.  However, I check A LOT of seats!  My LATCH Manual is getting a lot of use as I “talk” parents through installation of their baby’s seat and very often turn the conversation to their other children’s seats.

We still have a way to go in hospitals, but I am trying to make it better one nurse at a time. Next up? I think I will try for Instructor.
Annual General Meeting - Board Member Recruitment

CPSAC's Annual General Meeting is coming up in November (the date will be confirmed shortly). We'll be electing or re-electing members to the Board of Directors. All current board members are running for re-election: Katherine Hutka, Vanessa Ritchie, Deanna Lindsay, Marianne Rozak, Valerie Froom, Barbie Desormeaux, and Bobbi Tatoosh.

CPSAC has eight director positions. In particular, we are in need of a Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes during board meetings and distributing the agenda. It requires accurate typing, but not necessarily knowledge of how minutes are taken. Organizational skills and attention to detail would both serve you well in this role.

Board discussions happen electronically throughout the week. Meetings are held at least once a month via web conference or phone and usually take place on a Sunday evening -- earlier for the west coasters, later for the easterners. We have fun and they take approximately two to three hours. Aside from that, Board participation is what you make it, but it is an excellent opportunity to become actively engaged in the running of the organization. Some board members contribute an hour a week, and some an hour or two each day.

Think about it! The official call will happen soon.
Win Free Stuff!

One generous (and anonymous!) CPSAC member has sponsored three swag giveaways. Log in to the Members' Area and then CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway! If you are not yet a registered member, please become one. Members have access to resources, online yearly updates, recertification exams, and more. Accounts require approval before you can gain access to private content and are usually approved within 24 hours.
Copyright © 2015 Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (CPSAC), All rights reserved.


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