The Teddy Bear Sticker (TBS) Program

• Replace state-funded child safety seats that have been involved in a crash
• Provide injury prevention related incentive items to the reporting agencies

TBS Program Materials

• Memo Explaining the TBS Program (rev. 10/2011)
• TBS Fax Back Form for Crash Scene Reporting   (rev. 10/2011)
  Use this form to report when a child under age eight (8) was involved in the crash.


• "REPORT" Poster for First Responder Agencies 
  This is a poster designed to remind first responders to participate in the Teddy Bear Sticker program.

TBS Program Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Teddy Bear Sticker Program?
2. Why should my agency participate in the Program?
3. What is the procedure for replacing a state-funded child safety seat that has been in a crash?
4. Where can my agency obtain the most current Teddy Bear Sticker fax back form?
5. What does the Teddy Bear Sticker look like?
6. Where on a child safety seat should I look for the Teddy Bear Sticker?
7. Will you replace seats that don't have a Teddy Bear Sticker?
8. Why do child safety seats need to be replaced if they've been in a crash?
9. What is the Emergency Response Agency?
10. What is the Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency?
11. What types of incentive items do you have available?
12. My agency does not have a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician on staff. Can we replace a seat anyway?
13. How do I become a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician?

1. What is the Teddy Bear Sticker Program?
Teddy Bear Stickers are placed on all child safety seats distributed through the statewide that provides child safety seats and education in their proper use to low income families in Georgia. Through the Teddy Bear Sticker Program, Georgia's Office of Injury Prevention is notified when a seat with the Teddy Bear Sticker is involved in a crash, and the family can receive a replacement child safety seat.

2. Why should my agency participate in the Program?
By reporting when a child safety seat has been involved in a crash, you help the Office of Injury Prevention document serious injuries prevented and children's lives saved as a result of this program. Collecting this data is essential to justify future funding and to help ensure that these programs continue. The Teddy Bear Sticker Program is a great way to help a family that has been involved in a motor vehicle crash. It's also a way for your agency to acquire educational items for your injury prevention programs.

3. What is the procedure for replacing a state-funded child safety seat that has been in a crash?
When you encounter a seat with the Teddy Bear Sticker at a crash scene, complete the fax back form and fax it to the Office of Injury Prevention along with a copy of the accident report. The family's car insurance may cover the cost of a replacement child safety seat. If not, families needing a replacement seat are typically referred to an existing seat distribution program (Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency) that can to replace the seat with one from their own inventory. The Injury Prevention Program will then reimburse the distribution program with an equivalent seat. This helps ensure that families receive a replacement seat as soon as possible.

4. Where can my agency obtain the most current Teddy Bear Sticker fax back form?
Click here for the most up to date fax back form and other materials for the Teddy Bear Sticker Program.
Fax back forms are available in Microsoft Word format. Some agencies have found it helpful to complete the "Emergency Response Agency" and/or "Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency" sections with their agency information in advance, and then distribute copies of the "customized" form to their staff.

5. What does the Teddy Bear Sticker look like?

6. Where on a child safety seat should I look for the Teddy Bear Sticker?
Stickers should be on the side of the car seat and easily visible.

7. Will you replace seats that don't have a Teddy Bear Sticker?
No. The Teddy Bear Sticker Program only replaces state-funded child safety seats that have been in a motor vehicle crash. The family's car insurance may cover the cost of a replacement child safety seat. If not, low-income residents needing a child safety seat may be eligible to obtain a low or no cost seat through a seat distribution program in your area.

8. Why do child safety seats need to be replaced if they've been in a crash?
Even seats without obvious damage from a crash can have hidden stress fractures that make the seat less able to withstand the forces of another crash. It is generally a good idea to replace any child safety seat that has been in a motor vehicle crash. However, if there is ever any question as to whether a seat should be replaced, the parent/s or caregiver/s should contact the manufacturer of the child safety seat.

9. What is the Emergency Response Agency?
The fax back form asks for information about the Emergency Response Agency. The Emergency Response Agency is the agency that arrived at the scene of the motor vehicle crash and is often the agency submitting the fax back form.

10. What is the Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency?
The fax back form also asks for information about the Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency. The Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency is the agency which provides the child safety seat to replace the one that was in a crash. The Child Safety Seat Replacement Agency may be a local SAFE KIDS coalition, county health department or other organization with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician on staff that has an established relationship with the Injury Prevention Program.

11. What types of incentive items do you have available?
We currently have bike/skate helmets, smoke alarms, Buckle Bears, Buckle Up Frisbees, Buckle Up Stickers, safety brochures, and safety coloring books (available in English and Spanish).

12. My agency does not have a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician on staff. Can we replace a seat anyway?
No. Seats must be replaced by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). In this case, please contact the Office of Injury Prevention staff.

13. How do I become a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician?
To learn more about becoming a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, contact the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI) at 1-800-342-9819 or www.ridesafegeorgia.org.