Virtual inspections of child car seats by CHOP prove effective, and these services will persist for future use
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Expands Car Seat Check Services
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has expanded its child car seat check services, offering both in-person and virtual appointments to help parents ensure their children's safety on the road.
According to data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form database in 2023, more than 70% of child car seats are not installed correctly. Common mistakes include installing the seat too loosely and making the harness too loose. Incorrectly installed car seats can lead to seat belt ejections, spinal cord injuries, and head injuries.
To address this issue, CHOP has been hosting monthly events for parents to check their child's car seat installation. These events, such as the one held at the Plymouth Fire Company on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., provide hands-on education to ensure proper car seat installation, although technicians do not perform the installation themselves.
Recognising the need for more convenience, CHOP has also found virtual car seat check appointments to be effective. These virtual sessions allow technicians to guide parents and caregivers remotely to verify proper car seat use. A survey of 100 people who joined virtual child car seat checks from 2020 to 2022 found that all of them had installed their car seats correctly by the end of the session.
Gina Duchossois, an injury prevention manager at CHOP, stated that the virtual option has helped the hospital grow its car seat check program, particularly for those in rural communities or far from in-person events. Nathan Branosky, of the Pennsylvania State Police, suggested that while the virtual program is helpful for parents who cannot make in-person appointments, meeting a certified technician in person is still the best option.
CHOP continues to offer both in-person events and virtual appointments for car seat checks. Parents can make appointments with the Pennsylvania State Police to get their car seats checked as well. The hospital recently published research showing that the virtual option was effective.
Parents who used the virtual option during the pandemic lockdown found it to be a helpful service. Gina Duchossois, an injury prevention manager at CHOP, stated that the virtual option has helped the hospital grow its car seat check program, particularly for those in rural communities or far from in-person events.
[1] Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [2] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[1] The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is not only expanding its child car seat check services, but they have also found that virtual car seat check appointments, a service offered by the hospital, are effective in ensuring correct car seat installation, particularly beneficial for those in rural communities or far from in-person events.
[2] The misuse of child car seats remains a significant concern, with data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form database in 2023 indicating that more than 70% of child car seats are not installed correctly. To address this issue, CHOP collaborates with organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to promote health-and-wellness practices related to safe transportation for children.
