In 2013, a group of Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructors found themselves aspiring to do MORE!  They wanted to do more for the community, the children and the organizations that they had always served. What began as a small idea, grew and grew until they jumped in and founded The Safety Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Cioci, Professional Firefighter

 

Jason Cioci has been a leader in Child Passenger Safety for over a decade. He is widely known for his ability to teach families and other Technicians all the skills they need in order to protect the smallest of passengers. A career firefighter, Jason has built a reputation for empowering families to make informed safe choices for their children. He has received many accolades for his achievements around the state in his role as advocate, teacher and mentor. Some of his highlights include:

 

• Fire service, 21 years

• Emergency Medical Technician, 21 years

• Public Fire and Life Safety Educator

• Fire Inspector

• Child Passenger Safety Instructor 

• Awarded Firefighter Of The Year for Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, 2011

• Awarded Connecticut Safe Kids Advocate, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly Murphy, BS, CPSI

 

Ms. Murphy is a Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor with a concentration in the safe transportation of children with special health care needs. In 2003, Kelly Murphy was hired to assist Esther Pendola with the successful growth of New London County's Child Safety Program. Kelly soon became known as, "the resident car geek," having the unique ability to distinguish the year, make, model, seat belt systems and safety features of any vehicle - even when that vehicle is buried under a pile of snow!  Some of Kelly's greatest accomplishments include:

 

• Instrumental in helping to create Connecticut's current Child Passenger Safety Law

• Respected speaker at local and state level Child Injury Prevention Conferences

• Planning, conducting and evaluating education outreach activities within both the public and private school sectors throughout New London County

• Expert resource dedicated to the safe transportIon of children with, but not limited to; Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, behavioral challenges, developmental delays, low-birth weight/premature infants, childhood obesity and children casted after surge

 

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Jeff Erhart, Professional Firefighter

 

Jeff Erhart has been involved in public safety since 2003. From working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher to a career firefighter, he has encountered a lot of injuries and accidents involving families and children. In the past decade, Jeff has redirected his efforts in safety through prevention. Some of the roles he has acquired to achieve this are:

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• Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Instructor

• Educator in CPS for Children with Special Needs

• American Heart Association CPR Instructor

• Fire Service Instructor

• CT Fire Safety Code & Fire Investigator

• Emergency Medical Technician

• Past Public School Teacher

• Proud Father