For Immediate Release: May 19, 2021
Media Contact:
Ben Truman │ Vermont Department of Health
802-316-2117 / 802-863-7281
[email protected]
Vermont’s Sid Bradley Named U.S. Child Passenger Safety Instructor of Year
BeSeatSmart.org and child seat fitting stations keeps Vermont’s children safe on the road
BURLINGTON, VT – The Department of Health is pleased to announce that the National Child Passenger Safety Board (NCPSB) recently recognized Vermont Child Passenger Safety Coordinator Sidney Bradley as the 2021 U.S. Child Passenger Safety Instructor of Year.
Bradley, a resident of Franklin County, is part of the Vermont Child Passenger Safety Program (CPS). The CPS works with a statewide network of community volunteers to educate families and caregivers on the proper use of car and booster seats to ensure children are safe on Vermont’s roadways.
“This recognition is well-deserved,” said Stephanie Busch, Injury Prevention manager for the Health Department. “Sid works tirelessly sharing his knowledge and passion with our network of CPS tech volunteers, families and caregivers,” Busch said. “Thanks to his dedication, since 2019 more than 3,400 children have left our Vermont fitting stations safer than when they arrived."
In his role as coordinator, Sid oversees a broad-based training program that has produced 200 Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technicians, 13 Technician Proxies and 11 Instructors. He has also been a leading force to ensure 94% of residential buildings in Vermont are within a 30-minute drive of a public car seat inspection station.
As part of the National Safety Council, the NCPSB maintains the quality and integrity of the national standardized curriculum used to train and certify Child Passenger Safety Technicians and Instructors.
The award for Instructor of the Year is given to someone who demonstrates extraordinary dedication to programs in their community, supporting and using innovative approaches to increase child passenger safety awareness at the local, state and/or national levels.
For more information about keeping your child safe in a vehicle, visit BeSeatSmart.org.
Excerpt from the 2021 National CPS Awards:
U.S. Instructor of the Year
Sidney Bradley
In Vermont, the people are hearty, in part because of the weather. They learn to be strong because they cope with the elements – rain, sleet, ice, snow – almost every day. Sidney Bradley is strong in a kind-hearted way that sets him apart from the crowd.
In his role as the state’s child passenger safety coordinator, he has worked to ensure
94% of residential buildings in Vermont are within a 30-minute drive of a public car seat inspection station, many of these housed in police, fire, hospital and EMS locations and staffed predominantly by volunteers. He oversees a broad-based training program that has produced 200 Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technicians, 13 Technician Proxies and 11 Instructors.
He does it because he cares about the safety of children. He does it his way. Sid was one of the first to fully implement the National Digital Car Seat Check Form, and he is now using the data at his fingertips to inform decisions such as supplying car seats to inspection stations so they can go to families in need and to improve the training he oversees. He publishes a newsletter to keep Technicians informed about the latest CPS happenings. He manages the Vermont Be Seat Smart website, which is a resource for parents, caregivers and Technicians.
Bradley is recognized for his efforts over the last eight years as the U.S. Child Passenger Safety Instructor of Year by the National Child Passenger Safety Board. The award is sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
To learn more about Sidney and his dedication to child passenger safety, download the U.S. Instructor of the Year press release.
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