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| Community Education – Services & Events |
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Child Passenger Safety
 The Agnes Norris Family Birth Center at Littleton Regional Hospital wishes to remind future parents, parents and caregivers in the community that all children should be placed in child safety seats, booster seats or seat belts-every time they ride in an automobile. In Littleton, there are several Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) working within the community, three of whom are employees at the Maternity Department at Littleton Regional Hospital. Sheryl Loveland, Licensed Practical Nurse, received her certification in September of 2000. Koren Superchi and Carlene Whitcomb, both Registered Nurses Certified received their certification in July of 2001. The three nurses combined have over thirty years of nursing experience in obstetrics or pediatrics.
National studies reflect an approximately 80% rate of incorrect use of child restraint systems, while New Hampshire’s rate is approximately 91%. Combine that information with the fact that child safety seats reduce fatal injuries by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers between the ages of 1-4 years in passenger cars and it is easy to see the importance of car seat safety education. With this in mind, the Obstetrics Staff feels strongly that they have an excellent educational opportunity to make a contribution to the community. It is our goal to provide parents with the information and education regarding the proper use and installation of child safety seats as they start or expand their families and begin a good habit for life. We know the program is successful and we have met our goal when parents are able to independently install their child safety seat in any vehicle. To optimize these educational opportunities, Loveland, Superchi and Whitcomb now attend the Healthy Pregnancy Matters class, which is an early pregnancy class, to talk about car seats before parents have even purchased their seats, as well as attend the CPR/Safety classes to provide a more in depth education about the different types of seats and proper installation. Both of these classes are part of the ongoing Childbirth Education classes provided at Littleton Regional Hospital. At the time of discharge the parents are given hands on education about the proper installation of their infant into the seat and the seat into the vehicle.
For more information or direct questions about the Child Passenger Safety Program email info@littletonhospital.org. To learn more about the Child Passenger Safety Technician course please contact Jo-Ellen Courtney, Program Manager, at the Injury Prevention Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center at 1-877-783-0432. A variety of information, including a list of CPST’s in the area is available by logging on to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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