The problem:
Motor vehicle related injuries are among the most preventable causes of unintentional injury-related death and hospitalization in Virginia for children ages 0-14 years. Despite improvement in labeling, child safety restraints are often unintentionally misused by caregivers, reducing effectiveness.
The solution:
Child safety seats remain the most effective strategy to prevent motor vehicle related injuries and fatalities, reducing the risk of injury for crashes by 71–82% for children overall and 45% for children aged 4-8 using booster seats compared to the seat belt alone (CDC, 2022).
Pediatric providers play an important role in reducing the risk of misuse by screening and educating caregivers. In fact, child passenger safety is the only AAP Bright Futures topic recommended for discussion at every well child visit. Despite this opportunity, many pediatric providers lack knowledge or confidence to be able to address or respond to child passenger safety questions.
Every Ride Safe Ride is designed to increase pediatric provider knowledge, confidence, and frequency in addressing safe transportation of children through technical assistance to address unintentional childhood injuries and deaths related to motor vehicle transportation.
Every Ride Safe Ride:
Every Ride Safe Ride, designed by the VDH Child Passenger Safety Program team, is a public health technical assistance model of evidence-based industry practices that supports healthcare providers working with families of young children to effectively screen, counsel, and refer caregivers to resources towards the safe transportation of children during every stage and transition. There are multiple avenues to receive technical assistance outlined below:
I. Interactive Live Trainings
- Professional Development - 2-hour dynamic virtual training on safe transportation of children from birth through eighteen years. Live sessions provide 2 CME/MOC2. Enduring material only provides 2 CME
- Hub and Spoke Model Sessions - Quarterly virtual session designed to connect providers with CPS Technicians to address real-time needs and questions.
II. Consultation
Academic Detailing through virtual 1:1 assessment and targeted guidance to practice. Focus can include caregiver counseling, global practice implementation strategies or both.
III. Tool and Resources
All participants receive access to statewide and national resources and custom-designed tools to improve personal counseling behavior and global practice strategies to promote transportation safety.
