title: An Inpatient Child Passenger Safety program.
abstract: Background. Our institution implemented an Inpatient Child Passenger Safety (CPS) program for hospitalized children to improve knowledge and compliance with the Massachusetts CPS law, requiring children less than 8 years old or 57 inches tall to be secured in a car seat when in a motor vehicle. Methods. After the Inpatient CPS Program was piloted on 3 units in 2009, the program was expanded to all inpatient units in 2010. A computerized nursing assessment tool identifies children in need of a CPS consult for education and/or car seat. Results. With the expanded Inpatient CPS Program, 3650 children have been assessed, 598 consults initiated, and 325 families have received CPS education. Car seats were distributed to 419 children; specialty car seats were loaned to 134 families. Conclusions. With a multidisciplinary approach, we implemented an Inpatient CPS Program for hospitalized children providing CPS education and car seats to families in need.
authors.affiliation: 1Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey Nichole
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: DiGirolamo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Damian
authors.forename: Marcie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brostoff
authors.forename: Herminia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shermont
authors.forename: David Patrick
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: Lois Kaye
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057207:Child Restraint Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D016730:Program Development; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: car seats; child passenger safety; injury prevention