I'm pooped!
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive May 2004:
I'm pooped!
Gosh, I'm pooped! Worked at a Car Seat check today outside in sunny, hazy, humid 80+ degree weather. NOT typical weather in New England this time of year. LOL! I asked to be teamed with a seasoned CPS tech because I'm newly certified and feeling green but ended up working by myself the whole time. The Senior Tech checked over all my installations and said I did great.  I get a natural high from teaching parents how to install their car seats and transport their children safely. Last week I was asked to speak about Child Passenger Safety at a local Mom's Group meeting in the fall. This may sound silly to others but this is like a dream come true for me. I've wanted this for so long. A local radio station was broadcasting during the Car Seat Check. Would you believe my all time favorite song, "DREAM ON" by Aerosmith, came on while my first car for the day was pulling up?! "Dream on, Dream on, Dream until your dreams come true... Wow! Gave me goose bumps!
How wonderful that your dream has come true! Also how fantastic to be doing something you are truly passionate about! Congrats!!!!
btw..that's one of my all time favorite songs too!
Trina, how exactly do you word things with parents? Do they get defensive or embarrassed when you point out their errors? If you see lots of 'stuff' in the backseat or anywhere that can go flying in an accident, how do you tell them to put that stuff in the trunk and keep the car clear of that stuff? What shocking things did you see today? Do the kids cooperate when they have to get put in the seat and have you adjust the straps? I assume you do that, as well as installing the seat? Not to be nosy, but do you get paid for this or is it volunteer? Have I asked you enough questions?? Congrats!!!
Woo Hoo!!!!!!! Congratulations!
PS - Now you have ME thinking of Aerosmith songs!
I love Aerosmith... How do you become a CPS tech?? The only people in my town that do it are 1 or 2 fire fighters. It just sounds like something that would be fun to do.
Thanks, ladies! I'm feeling sore and a little sun burned today.
Kate, I had the same concerns about people becoming defensive, but when they come to a Car Seat Check they're looking for solicited advice. They soak up everything we say and ask lots of questions. It's all done in a comfortable, casual way. I oogle over the kids, talk mommy talk with the parents and joke with them to put them at ease. It's fun! One Dad had a car seat tethered to a cargo hook in the back of his SUV. I explained it wasn't a legitimate tether anchor and pulled out his vehicle manual to learn where or if his vehicle had tether points. We read that it did, located them and I told him to contact Nissan for the proper parts, etc.. I discussed the benefits of extended rear facing with a mom of 1 yr. old, 25 lb. twins. Her car seats had a 30 rear facing limit, and she decided to keep them rear facing longer. Three full term pregnant moms came in to learn how to install and use their infant carriers. A young couple came in and needed help installing an infant carrier in their Mustang. The only way it would fit was to push the front passenger seat all the way forward. I told them, and the Senior Tech. reiterated, that no one could sit in the front passenger seat because it was too close to the air bag. The passenger would have to sit in the back with the baby, which is advised with newborns anyway. A Mustang is a very cool car but not very family friendly! So far the kids have done well when I've adjusted and/or checked the harness. One little girl (3) wasn't cooperative at first when I needed her to sit in her car seat to see which harness slots were appropriate. I backed off and let the mother handle it. Then she perked up and was happy to oblige when I offered a safety sticker. Most CPS techs do it as part of their job - police officers/fire firefighters/nurses... but since I'm a SAHM it's volunteer work. However, I'm hoping after lots of experience it will turn into a paid position somehow. I must point out that not all police officers, fire fighters or nurses, etc. are CPS Techs.
Emily, to become a CPS Tech you need to take a 32 hr. course and pass. More info at SafeKids.org
You sound like you are just walking on air, Trina!! I am so happy for you that you are finally doing what you have wanted to do for so long!
Trina, I can just hear the excitement in your post. It's so nice to do something that you love doing and that you know is helping people. That's how I feel every day at work. The saying is true..."You'll never work a day in your life if you love what you do!"
I wanted to throw out a suggestion for it possibly turning into a paid position. We have a woman at the hospital I work at who does car seat stuff. I think it is a combined thing between our hospital and the Safe Kids Coalition. The hospital where I work is predominantly a maternity hospital, so there is a lot of education in choosing and installing a carseat for a newborn and esp. preemies or those with special needs. We have 2 big events each year for expectant parents and there is a huge car seat giveaway and workshops all day long in how to install a car seat, plus she does special car seat inspection events. I know there is a children's hospital fairly near you and it might be worth looking into...even helping them develop a part-time position for you. You can get to my hospital's website at www.womans.com and type "car seat" in the search box for more info. If you want to get in touch with the woman who does all of our car seat stuff, I can email you her name and work phone number so you can find out really what she does, what hours she works, etc.
Cangratulations!!!!
Oh my!!! Spelling errors and a grammar error...try to overlook  . The editor in me can't abide it!!
Pam, I've already met and have been in contact with the CT Safe Kids Director, who works at CCMC (CT Childrens Medical Center) in Hartford. She was one of my CPS instructors and has been very helpful and informative. In fact, I'm calling her tomorrow to discuss my speaking about CPS at Mom's Groups, etc.. Hopefully my contact with her will eventually lead to something. No rush, as I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to work yet. LOL! Also not sure about commuting into Hartford. Hmmmm, lots to think about. For now, I'm content to volunteer (MY schedule) and gain experience. CT has a booster seat bill in the works. If it becomes a law I would imagine public education will be necessary. With my teaching background I have visions of traveling to area schools teaching/promoting booster seat use. Ah, there I go dreaming again! Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.
Trina
Keep Reaching For Your Dreams!
Hi Trina,
I am new here but I am also from CT. My husband and I actually paid 50 bucks for someone to come to our home to teach us infant/child CPR, talk about baby proofing and also install our carseat. I would have gladly paid more for the convienience of having someone come to my HOME for that info. We met the guy at Babies R Us doing a free demo and passing out info about his business.
In addition, I have worked at Hartford Hospital for the last 2 + years and have some connections there who may be able to get you in the door to teach some classes or something to expectant parents if that is something you are interested in in the future. Anyway, its a great free service that you provide that sounds like fun too! My husband is an engineer and we still didn't get our infant seat installed properly until someone showed us how.
Trina, congratulations on a succesful day! It is so important to get the word out about the importance of car seats. Just last week here in Maine there was a horrible crash-7 people died and 4 were children ages 2-8. None of them were in carseats and they think only 2 people total were wearing seat belts.
This post also reminded me to get my car cleaned out. Way too much stuff has accumulated in the caravan. Thanks .
By the way Trina, I had asked a while ago about a booster seat for my DD. I bought one a few weeks ago-it is an Evenflo Chase. My DD loves it. I'm not sure yet-it has the adjustment for the harness on the harness itself. I'm still getting used to it. All of the links you had given me really helped to narrow the search. Thanks again!
Thank you, ladies!
Sarah, Welcome aboard! Glad to see another Mom from CT. Looks like we may even live in the same neck of the woods. I'll keep you in mind if I'm looking for hospital connections in the future. Thanks! If you have any car seat questions I'd be happy to help. I can even inform you of area Car Seat checks and inspection stations. There will be one June 5th at BabiesRUs in Manchester. I want to work at that one but have already committed to working at the Children's Fair at my DK's school. Bummer. I'd rather work a seat check!
Meredith, I read about that accident on the CPS listserve. So very sad. Makes me angry! Glad my links were helpful. I installed two Evenflo Triumphs during the Car Seat Check that had the harness adjusters on the harness. I had never played with them before and they took a little getting used to!
Great job, Trina! I know exactly how you feel. I tried in the beginning to get certified when it was "new". However, everytime I applied, it was already full classes due to all the professionals needing the info.
I still cringe when I see improper car seats! And I am amazed at how many people don't listen to your sound advice (in real life, not at safety check points).
Keep it up!
Thanks, Dana. Oh, I hear you concerning people not listening. Friends and acquaintances IRL look at me like I'm out of my tree when I share CPS info. They chuckle and shake their head when I tell them DD (almost 6, 38 lbs.) is still in a 5 pt. harness and DS (7.5) is in a booster. One mom was very surprised and almost disbelieving (is that a word? LOL!) when I told her how dangerous a lap belt only seating position was. I hope and pray they don't learn how important this stuff is the hard way.
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