Submitted photo Megan Minor makes sure Major Lockhart is safely buckled into his car seat before heading home with his parents. 

Megan Minor, a NICU Registered Nurse at Anderson Regional Health System, has recently met the requirements for Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).

Minor attended a three day course in Biloxi provided by Safe Kids Worldwide and learned many aspects of car seat safety.

“I learned so many things that I thought I already knew but didn’t,” Minor said in a news release. “For instance, the weight limit of the LATCH system that holds the car seat in place includes the weight of the seat PLUS the child. The LATCH weight limit varies from vehicle to vehicle, so you have to check the manual to be sure.”

As Lauderdale County’s first and only CPST, Minor will be offering complimentary car seat checks for Anderson Regional Birth Center patients to help reassure parents that the seat is installed properly. She will make sure parents aren’t making common mistakes like adding things to make their child more comfortable.

“Newborn cushions that surround an infant actually interfere with the safety of the seat. We have to put the baby’s safety ahead of comfort, and at that age it’s not likely that he/she is actually uncomfortable,” Minor said.

Anderson will be offering periodic safety checks for the community where families can have their car seat installation checked for accuracy. During these events, Minor will be on the lookout for car seats that have been recalled, checking the placement of the tether strap and airbag locations, and making sure the LATCH weight limit is in range.

Anderson will also be providing parents with tags to hang from the rear view mirror as a reminder to “Look Before You Leave”. The tag will be hooked to the car seat and must be removed in order to put the car seat in place. This effort is part of the movement to end children dying as a result of being left in a hot car.

As part of Anderson’s Childbirth Education Series, the Infant CPR Class will now be named Infant Safety Class with car seat safety being taught in addition to CPR training. “Even the most expensive car seat isn’t safe if it’s installed incorrectly,” Minor said.