Vermont's Child Passenger Safety Program, Be Seat Smart, is designed to draw attention to the importance of child car seats and to help caregivers understand the 4 Stages of Seat Safety for every child. Child safety seats can be confusing for caregivers, and many car seats are not properly installed. Certified safety technicians are available to help you for free at Fitting Stations throughout Vermont and at special Car Seat Check events.
A car seat inspection is a free and convenient way to have your child's car seat inspected by a Nationally Certified Technician. Unlike Fitting Stations, car seat inspections are mobile, one-time events at unique locations and appointments are not required. All car seat inspections are "first come, first served". All Vermont car seat inspections stations participate in the Vermont Car Seat Program.
If you are interested in hosting an event in your community, contact Sid Bradley, Child Passenger Safety Program Coordinator.
Over the past 25 years, more than 970 children in the United States have died of heat stroke because they were left or became trapped in a hot car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s important to understand these tragedies can happen to anyone — but are always preventable.
If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. If a child is in distress due to heat, remove them from the vehicle as quickly as possible and cool them rapidly. Stay with the child until help arrives.
Vermont law (12 V.S.A. § 5784 ) protects someone who forcibly enters a vehicle to rescue a child or animal. Fast action could save a life.
See Take Action to Prevent Heat Stroke in Children
Learn more from this 2024 awareness campaign focused on increasing awareness of the dangers of car-related health-related injuries and possible death. The campaign was developed by Vermont's Agency of Transportation Drive Well VT.
A heat stroke prevention campaign, Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock, from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aims to educate parents and caregivers to learn about the deadly consequences of leaving children in cars.
Video of Chris Bell, former director of the Division of Emergency Preparedness, Response and Injury Prevention at the Vermont Department of Health, discussing the Be Seat Smart Program. Video produced by the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
