MACON - Northeast Missouri is in need of certified child passenger safety technicians - individuals and organizations who are certified to properly install car seats. There are very few of these valued resources in our region, which is why the Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety is offering a CPS Tech Training Class in April free to those interested in helping us continue to reduce fatalities on Missouri roads.
Missouri law requires all children under eight to be in a child safety or booster seat until they are 80 lbs. or 4'9" tall. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed.
"The more resources and technicians we have available to assist families with car seat installment, the safer children are in a vehicle," said Kathy Zents, a certified passenger safety seat technician trainer. As part of the NE Coalition for Roadway Safety, Zents, and other certified trainers, will teach the three day course.
Class will be held at MoDOT's Northeast District Office in Hannibal April 13 through April 15 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a one-half hour for lunch. Class participants are required to help at a child safety event, so a child car seat check event will be included on April 15.
Participants are required to pay the $85 class fee up front, and then upon successful completion of the course, the Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety will reimburse each individual. The coalition will also provide lunch.
"This course entails so much more than simply installing child safety seats," Zents explained. "Participants will learn about topics ranging from motor vehicle laws, crash dynamics and vehicle safety, to talking to parents about safety," she added. There will also be demonstrations throughout the class.
To participate in the class, please go to the website http://www.safekids.org/certification. You will need to set up a profile in order to get registered for the class. Registrations need to be completed by Monday, April 3. For questions, you can contact Marisa Christy-Kerns at (660) 385-8257.