Launched in 2010, “First Ride, Safe Ride” is a program for hospital discharge staff to learn about child passenger safety for newborns. The focus of the project is to address the barriers faced by hospitals working to provide education on child passenger safety to new parents. While the use of safety seats is required by law and practically universally accepted, misuse of safety seats is also common. When seats are not used as intended by the manufacturers, the safety features are compromised. Infants are at an increased risk for serious and long-term injuries in the event of a vehicle crash. Hospital discharge staff play an important role in making that first ride a safe ride and setting the family up for long-term success.
Health Care Provider Training
The First Ride, Safe Ride training is a free 2-hour child passenger safety training. The training is designed for anyone involved with education or the discharge process. This includes:
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Delivery Team Members
- Volunteers
- Transporters
From the training, participants will be able to understand:
- Public health impact of vehicle crashes
- Crash dynamics and newborn vulnerabilities
- Current child passenger safety laws in Virginia
- Best practices in child passenger safety
- Special health care considerations and community resources
To learn more or to schedule a training, contact ivp@vdh.virginia.gov.
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Virginia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Free Digital & Print Materials
- VDH offers free educational resources for practice use. The following print items can be ordered here. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of materials. Links below provide access to digital versions.
- Child Passenger Safety Rack Card | English and Spanish
- Child Passenger Safety Brochure | English and Spanish
- Child Passenger Safety Poster | English and Spanish
- 4 Steps to Child Passenger Safety: Flipbook | English | Spanish
Available as digital download only:
Other Useful Websites:
- NHTSA’s Car Seat Finder: Find the Right Seat
- Car Seat Safety for Premature Babies and Babies with Medial Conditions (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
- Car Seat Installation Videos (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
Technical Assistance & Resources
Technical assistance from VDH is also available at no cost and can include policy templates, practice improvement recommendations to meet available capacity, program information, and hands-on demonstration. Request by emailing ivp@vdh.virginia.gov.
Published Policy Positions and Recommendations:
- AAP, NHTSA NSA, CPSB Joint Hospital Discharge Recommendations for Safe Transportation of Children (2014)
- AAP Policy Statement Child Passenger Safety (2018)
- AAP Safe Transportation of Newborns at Hospital Discharge (1999)
- AAP Safe Transportation of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants at Hospital Discharge (2009)
- AAP Transporting Children with Special Health Care Needs (2019)
Partnership Opportunities
Partner with your local Safety Seat Check Station or Child Passenger Safety Technicians to host a monthly seat check event at your hospital or provide education at your birthing classes. Learn more here.
If you'd like an onsite expert, consider having one of your staff become a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Nurses can receive 24 contact hours for completing the certification course.
For other assistance needs, contact ivp@vdh.virginia.gov.