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Child Car Seat Safety
There’s nothing more precious than the life of a child. But every year, too many innocent children are killed in car crashes. Simply making sure that children are in age- and size- appropriate car and booster seats can prevent many of these deaths.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,335 children ages 14 years and younger died in 2006 as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 184,000 were injured. That’s an average of four deaths and 504 injuries each day.
The Chatham County Health Department, Safe Kids Savannah, and Safe Kids Worldwide are working to try to improve those grim statistics. It all starts with educating caregivers about the appropriate ways to transport children.
For maximum child passenger safety, parents and caregivers should refer to the following 4 Steps for Kids guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children based on age and size:
1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.
2. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall).
4. When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall) they can use the adult seat belts in the back seat, if they fit properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).
Safe Kids also offers the following child passenger safety rules:
* Every person on every ride must use a car seat, booster seat or safety belt that’s right for his or her weight and height.
* All children under age 13 ride in a back seat.
* Know where the airbags are in your vehicles. They can be in the front seat, on the roofline or in a back
seat. Some airbags can be turned off.
* Follow manufacturers’ instructions for car seats, booster seats and vehicle safety at all times.
* Do not allow your child to ride in vehicles where drivers or passengers do not use safety restraints.
* Don’t share safety belts. Use one safety belt for each person in the car.
* Weigh and measure children often to be sure they are using the right safety device.
* Install car seats using a locked vehicle safety belt or LATCH system. Read and follow all labels and
instructions.
* Never use car seats purchased from yard sales, secondhand stores or flea markets.
* Never let children ride on laps or in cargo areas or pickup truck beds.
Safe Kids Savannah along with State Farm Insurance Company will offer free child safety seat inspections from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday, September 26 at Week Day Ministries in the parking lot of First Baptist Church, 118 East 6th Street in Rincon.
For more information about protecting your child from preventable injuries, contact the Safe Kids Savannah office at 912-353-3148 or visit Safe Kids Worldwide.