Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death and injury among children. The Connecticut Department of Public Health provided funds (via the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant) to selected Connecticut local health departments to conduct activities related child safety seats (i.e., car seat installation). In 2013, the CTDPH Injury Prevention Office set a target goal of 87% that participants would show an increased level of child safety seat awareness upon attending a child safety seat program. Between 2014 and 2015, there was a 2.8% increase in participants who showed improvements in the correct use of passenger seats (i.e., from 83.3% in 2014 to 86.1% in 2015). Collectively, 85.3% of participants showed improvements. The percentage of participants who showed improvements bordered the target goal.  New data updates are expected by 8/31/20.

Local health departments carry out motor vehicle accident prevention services using the Public Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG). In 2014 and 2015, the selected LHDs were New Haven Health Department and Chesprocott Health District.

• The Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control - Interventions to Prevent Motor Vehicle Injuries
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Works: Strategies to Increase Car Seat and Booster Seat Use
  (http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/strategies.html)
• A., Kirley, B., Sandt, L., Hall, W., Thomas, L., O’Brien, N., & Summerlin, D. (2013, April). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety countermeasures guide for State Highway Safety Offices. 7th edition. (Report No. DOT HS 811 727). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811727.pdf)

DPH is contracting with local health departments to carry out evidenced-based demonstrations and awareness of correct use of child safety seats. DPH recommends the use of effective and efficient best practices that yields positive outcomes.