Illinois Department of Transportation Summer 2009 Traffic ... - Caution

OCCUPANT PROTECTIONCPSINSTRUCTORMEETINGAt the April 13, 2009 meeting in Springfield, over60 Child Passenger Safety (CPS) instructorsreceived important updates from KerryChausmer, Certification Department Director forSafe Kids Worldwide and Lorrie Walker, TrainingManager and Technical Advisor for the SafeKids Buckle Up program. Lorrie also serves asthe curriculum committee chair for the NationalCPS Board. Kerry and Lorrie gave pointers onhow to become better CPS instructors, and howto assist new instructors.Kerry updated instructors on all aspects ofnational CPS certification from class registrationto recertification. She works to improvecommunication between technicians/instructorsand Safe Kids Worldwide through a monthlye-newsletter, the CPS Express, as well asmaintaining a list of all nationally-certified CPStechnicians and instructors. Examples of thesewere presented at the meeting.Lorrie gave an overviewof her community-based educationalprogram on vehicle safety. She also updated thegroup on the more than 300 Safe Kids Coalitionsthroughout the United States.Prior to this meeting, Susan Hocker, IllinoisDepartment of Transportation’s first OccupantProtection Coordinator, was honored for hercontributions. Susan was instrumental in thepassage of the Child Passenger Protection Act andworked tirelessly to educate all Illinois citizens onthe importance of child safety seats and bucklingup, every trip, every time. We wish her a longand healthy retirement.By Megan Eairheart, Assistant State OccupantProtection CoordinatorCAUTION!-Summer 2009 15