We were delighted recently when our partners at Safe Kids China asked us to visit and conduct a child passenger safety certification course in Shanghai. Our goal was to teach and certify health and safety professionals in Shanghai about the benefits of using child safety restraints in the car.

Only an estimated 2-3 percent of the population in China have or use car seats. But things are starting to change. A newly passed law will go into effect soon in Shanghai that will require children under 4 to ride in car seats. This is huge step in the right direction.

Car seats like this one save lives

One of the best parts of my job at Safe Kids is working with families who generously share their stories to inspire other parents to get involved. The following story is one of my favorites because it really shows what our work is all about – the little things you can do that can make a big difference.

A child properly strapped into a car seat

Sometimes we do something and have no idea what the long term consequences might be.

I took the Child Passenger Safety Certification Course in 1998. It was one of the original courses offered and I traveled all the way from Louisiana to Texas to be one of the first people to get certified to correctly install and check car seats.