There are four arms of our child passenger safety program to enable us to reach our patients at various areas of the hospital. The overall goals of the child passenger safety program are to educate families and provide needed child safety seats for the safe transport of all our patients.
Inpatient Program: The Injury Prevention Program at Boston Children’s Hospital includes a program for inpatient (hospitalized) children. The goal of this program is to ensure that every child <8 years of age leaving Children's Hospital, Boston in a motor vehicle has been screened by an RN and is properly restrained in a car seat. The Inpatient CPS Program serves children with special needs including premature infants who require car beds, children with orthopedic injuries who need specialized car seats for spica casts (Hippo car seat), children with medical problems necessitating they must lie down while riding in a car (EZ-On Vest®), as well as children who need a standard child safety seat. Parents may request for a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to check the installation of their seat. The Inpatient Car Seat program gives children and families the resources and education needed to stay safe while riding in vehicles, reducing the incidence and severity of devastating childhood injuries.
Community Car Seat Fitting Station: A community car seat fitting station occurs weekly on Wednesdays by appointment only. Families can call the Injury Prevention Program at 617-355-7332.
Emergency Department Program: The Emergency Department child passenger program assesses < 8 years old for having an appropriate car seat prior to discharge home. This is done as part of the initial nursing assessment. Child passenger safety education and car seats are provided to patients as needed.
Primary Car Program: Boston Children’s Primary Care at Longwood and Martha Eliot Health Center: Car seat workshops are held monthly at Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center and Martha Eliot Health Center. The workshop includes a video and hands on demonstration. On completion of the class the parents are eligible for a free car seat (infant, toddler, and booster seat).
