It is said that no one really sets out to find a career in child safety manufacturing but it’s one of those career fields that (when it finds you) you are never likely to leave it. Sherri Cannon of Lawrence, Kansas had worked for the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for nearly twenty years. She had been managing their educational safety programs involving occupant protection, impaired driving prevention, youth programs and helping with their annual seatbelt survey. This is where her career in Child Passenger Safety (CPS) actually began.

She helped to initiate a standardized curriculum to help certify CPS technicians and instructors. Soon Sherri found herself as a participant in a pilot class to become a CPS instructor. Once you become a certified CPS technician you are assigned a specific number, and Sherri’s number is 56. Currently, there are now 30,000 numbers that have been issued to CPS instructors across the nation as they complete their training.

With the success of the program, NHTSA promoted Sherri as their Regional CPS Coordinator, where she also served on the National Child Passenger Safety Board. A Board that was responsible for all certification and curriculum. During her time as a CPS Instructor, Sherri taught at least 100 courses. Most of the courses are taught to nurses, law enforcement, fire departments and emergency management personnel, and to new moms, families, guardians, and those with young children – anyone interested in learning about keeping children safe in car seats.

Sherri’s passion for child safety is strong, and she says that most people who work in this field also have the same determination. A lot of one’s free time is spent volunteering at free car seat check-up events, whether they occur during the evenings or weekends. Sherrie explains, "During many of these events you are working with families - new moms and dads, as they are extremely interested in doing what they can to reduce fatalities, and keep their children safe." She also expressed that the global health crisis changed how they conduct business, as many in-person events have now been converted to virtual activities.

Sherri had an 18-year career with NHTSA, and then by invitation, she began teaching part-time at the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) in Oklahoma City. She worked as an Associate Staff member, teaching approximately 4 classes a year. In 2021, a Division Manager’s position became open, so she applied for it and was accepted.

To receive the Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Award, you must be nominated by your peers. To this day, Sherri doesn’t know who nominated her, but she is honored and grateful for the recognition. The Manufacturers Alliance for Child Passenger Safety (which advocates for vehicle manufacturers, car seat manufacturers, injury prevention programs, government agencies, research, first responders and even your fellow neighbor) are the primary sponsors of this award, along with the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).

The awards program was held this past spring during the National Highway Safety "Lifesavers" Conference in Seattle, WA. Unfortunately, Sherri was not able to attend in person.

When asking Sherri, where we might see her work, she replies, "You would see it – if you are a new parent, or a new grandparent or a new caregiver for a child or baby. My work is in the child safety seat, and children from newborn to 6 years old. It’s based on their development, height, weight, and size to determine the right seat."

Many times, the Child Seat Checkup events are open to the public. They are held at car dealerships, advertised through hospitals, through National Safe Kids programs, and places like Fire Departments. It’s about certification and keeping kids safe. Instructors must renew their certifications every two years and continuing education credits are required. The bottom line is being able to demonstrate the ability to install a child seat properly for safety.

While Sherri holds this honor in the highest regard, she comments, "I am honored that my peers in the industry recognized me for my work, as it signifies that my work does have meaning. I truly appreciate it and it is a wonderful award. But the most important piece of earning this is really the few phone calls that I have received, telling me that we saved a child’s life yesterday. While we don’t get those calls often, they are most impactful."

Sherri Cannon, the Highway Traffic Safety Program Manager at the US Department of Transportation’s - Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) in Oklahoma City, OK was recently named to the Manufacturers Alliance of Child Passenger Safety (MACPS) "CPS Hall of Fame Class of 2022." Cannon is honored for her 20+ years of dedicated effort regarding the safety of children in motor vehicles.

According to MACPS, "the Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to CPS in all facets. Included are members that were manufacturers, government and public and private agency specialists, advocates, designers, researchers, and many others. All have made contributions that have been regionally, nationally, or internationally significant and of enduring value."

TSI Director Troy Jackson reflects on how fortunate the organization is to have Sherri as a key player on their team, adding, "Sherri has been a dedicated child passenger safety advocate and educator for over 20 years, and joins an illustrious group of highway safety professionals in the continuing effort to save lives."

More about the work done at TSI

See the rest of the inductees to the CPS Hall of Fame

To learn more about Safe Kids in Oklahoma contact:
Safe Kids Oklahoma | Safe Kids Worldwide
or Elizabeth Koldoff, Safe Kids Oklahoma