|
May 25, 2005
|
| Announcements & Notices |
Four-Day CPST Spanish Curriculum
The Four-Day CPST Spanish Curriculum is coming!
SAFE KIDS and NHTSA are working diligently to have the curriculum ready. We expect it will be released late fall/winter 2005.
If you are interested in teaching the Four-Day CPST class in Spanish, or if you would like to offer the Four-Day CPST class in Spanish in your region, please send an e-mail to Kerry Chausmer. Be sure to let us know if you are a current instructor or if you would consider becoming an instructor.
Submitted by Marilu Montalvo, CPST Coordinator/Instructor (Conyers, Ga.)
Instructor-Candidate Course Available
There is an Instructor Candidate class in Palm Beach County, Fla., the week of June 14-17, 2005. If any candidates would like to attend the class in Florida as an Instructor Candidate, please contact Kelly Hamilton at kellyhamilton@safetycouncil.com.
Submitted by Kelly Hamilton, Broward & Palm Beach Safe Kids Coordinator (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Re-Certification
Don’t Risk Your Certification
You may re-certify up to four months before your certification expiration date.
- Seat checks may be logged at any time during your certification cycle and must be approved before you can register for re-certification.
- You must complete registration no later than your certification expiration date.
- Once your re-certification registration is processed, you will have 30 days to complete the online exam. The test does not have to be completed by your certification expiration date.
REMINDER: The re-certification exam is “open book” and may be used as an opportunity to learn.
Practice Test
Please take a moment to be sure your browser works with the testing service. Recently a technician tried taking the test on day 28, a Saturday. His computer didn’t have Internet Explorer loaded, and he didn’t figure out it was a problem until Saturday afternoon. The test expired Sunday at 1 a.m.
Please take the demonstration test and check out your computer before you get into a bind. If you have problems, call Customer Service at 877-366-8154 or TesTrac directly at 952-953-6292.
If your test is never started, inadvertently submitted or incomplete when the term expires, it will be graded and you won’t get your money refunded.
|
| Just for Instructors |
|
Teaching Hours
Need teaching hours?
Teaching hours must be obtained during a CPS Certification or Renewal (when it becomes available) course.
Did you know you don’t have to teach the entire time? Often, the instructor team could use help on day 3 or at other times during the course.
Check Your Hours
Unsure if you have the required 20 hours logged to re-certify? Contact Customer Service at 877-366-8154 or cps.certification@safekids.org.
|
| Just for Fun |
Are You a CPS Nerd? Test Your Knowledge!
This section of this newsletter highlights trivia and facts about child passenger safety. Please submit your ideas to Kerry Chausmer. Be sure to include how you would like your name to appear.
Answers may be found at the end of this edition of the CPS Express!
- What 2004-05 passenger vehicles have no LATCH positions?
Submitted by Deborah Davis Stewart, SAFE RIDE NEWS (Shoreline, Wash.)
- That CSS made in the last few years required a Phillips screwdriver to remove two screws in order to change the crotch plate position from rear-facing to forward-facing?
Bonus: On what pages in the CSS instructions can this information be found?
Submitted by Bill Van Alstyne (Voorheesville, N.Y.) |
| CPS Resources |
New Edition of the LATCH/Tether Manual Available
The fourth edition of LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Child Restraints is available now. It is a completely new edition that does more than just include information on 2004 and 2005 products. It is designed specifically for CPS Technicians.
The new edition is user-friendly, with summaries and quick reference lists of key product features. The text provides extensive coverage of various misuses of the LATCH system and a full explanation of key emerging issues, such as:
- Using LATCH anchors in the center rear seat with non-standard spaced lower anchor bars
- Easy access to tether anchors and the importance of encouraging tether use
- Using tether anchors for child restraints above the maximum weight listed by the vehicle manufacturers
Vehicle pages are now organized by brand name (for example, Pontiac or Lincoln) instead of by manufacturer. We have added the name of the vehicle brand at the top right of each right-hand page, making it easier to find the brand you are looking for.
The fourth edition is available at the same price as the last two editions, $24.95. Discounts are available for bulk orders of three or more books. Please contact SRN Publications at 800-403-1424, or print out the order form at http://www.saferidenews.com/. Credit cards and purchase orders are accepted. If leaving a voicemail message, please include a fax number to obtain an order form.
Submitted by Deborah Davis Stewart, SAFE RIDE NEWS (Shoreline, Wash.)
|
| Featured Frequently Asked Question |
Once I register for re-certification, where does my test information get sent?
Your test information will be mailed, e-mailed and posted in your profile. With the current system, it may be found under your certification information in your online profile.
|
| CPS Nerd answers |
- What 2004-05 passenger vehicles have no LATCH positions?
Sports cars and pickup trucks with Advanced Air Bags (AABs). These small vehicles have no back seat, or the back seat is too small for a rear-facing child restraint. They have neither LATCH nor an air bag on/off switch. The AAB is shut off or reduced in force by sensors in the seat and on the seat belt. Therefore, the seat belt must be used for CR installation in order to provide information to the AAB to shut it off.
AABs are being phased in between model years 2004 and 2006, when ALL passenger vehicles will have them. Small sports cars and pickups without AABs have LATCH in the right front seat and an air bag on/off switch.
For a complete description of AABs, see SAFE RIDE NEWS, July/August 2003, pages 6-7, archived at http://www.saferidenews.com/.
Submitted by Deborah Davis Stewart, SAFE RIDE NEWS (Shoreline, Wash.)
- What CSS made in the last few years required a Phillips screwdriver to remove two screws in order to change the crotch plate position from rear-facing to forward-facing? Evenflo Titan, Vanguard and Victory.
Bonus: On what pages in the CSS instructions can this information be found? Pages 14 and 15.
Submitted by Bill Van Alstyne (Voorheesville, N.Y.)
|
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact us at:
SAFE KIDS
CPS Certification
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 877-366-8154 (toll free)
Fax: 202-393-2072
cps.certification@safekids.org
This newsletter was e-mailed as a benefit of your national CPS certification. |
| |