Banner-A Guide to Implementing Child Passenger Safety Inspection Stations

CONCLUSION

Two boys This Guide is meant to provide the reader with a general understanding of the concept and operation of a CPS inspection station. Just as no one seat is right for every vehicle, there is no one format for a CPS inspection station that is right for every community.

Networking with other CPS community partnerships will generate additional ideas and resources for developing and operating CPS inspection stations. It can also help to identify potential pitfalls and possible solutions when problems do arise. The best way to locate other CPS community partnerships will be through the state occupant protection coordinator.

The best CPS inspection station is the one that fits the needs of families, fits within the community it serves, and is easily accessible.

Special Considerations for First Responders

Scheduling and staffing CPS inspections is a common challenge faced by many inspection stations that are sponsored by local emergency response organizations such as police, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services (EMS). These organizations are very committed to injury prevention and CPS, often requiring staff to be trained and certified as CPS technicians. Many choose to operate CPS inspection stations on a weekly basis or even daily basis.

However, scheduling on-duty personnel who are trained and certified as CPS technicians to conduct inspections poses a problem if those individuals are called away to respond to an emergency situation. Parents and caregivers can be left waiting at police stations and firehouses until the CPS technician returns from an emergency call. Many emergency response organizations have tried to resolve this problem by paying off-duty personnel overtime to conduct CPS inspections or having “on-call” back-up technicians available if someone is sent out on an emergency call. All first-responder sites tell CPS clients in advance that the scheduled inspection may be postponed if an emergency call arises.

There is no one answer to the scheduling problem for first-responders. Networking with other emergency response organizations that are successfully operating CPS inspection stations can help generate possible solutions.