Our children are so precious, and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do to protect them. But every year, statistics show that motor vehicle accidents are an all-too-common cause of the deaths of children ages 1–13. That’s why car seat safety is so important. When properly utilized, car seats can protect our children from serious injuries or worse if they’re involved in a motor vehicle crash. It’s essential that parents and guardians know how to properly install and use car seats to maximize their safety. Here are two car seat safety tips to help keep your children protected while in the car. Use rear-facing seats as long as possible. Many parents are familiar with rear-facing seats for their infants but worry that as their children grow, they will need to switch to a front-facing seat to make room for their legs. This is not necessarily the case though. It’s safe and comfortable for a rear-facing child to sit with crossed legs. Most convertible seats have a rear-facing weight limit of between 35–50 pounds and absorb most of the crash forces while supporting the neck, head, and spine. With These Car Seat Tips KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN THE CAR
GET YOUR CAR SEAT INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN
Did you know 59% of car seats are installed improperly?! There are many resources to help you make sure your child’s car seat is installed correctly. Safe Kids Central Ohio sponsors an event on Sept. 14, 2022, from 1–3 p.m. at the Greenfield Township Fire Department in Carroll, Ohio, no appointment necessary. But if you can’t make it to that event, car seat inspection stations are open year-round. Certified technicians will inspect your car seat free of charge, in most cases, and show you how to correctly install and use it. Go to NHTSA.gov/ equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats where you can enter your zip code or city and find a station or a local event. In Mansfield, Richland Public Health has a certified child car seat technician on staff who can check your child safety seat and assist in proper installation. Child car seat checks are conducted on Fridays. Call 419-774-4726 to schedule an appointment. What the Statistics Tell Us • In 2014, approximately 24% of children between the ages of 4–7 years old were prematurely moved to seat belts. • Approximately 9% of children in that age group went unbuckled in 2014. • Every 33 seconds, a child under 13 is involved in a crash. • More than one-third of children under the age of 13 who died in crashes in 2013 were unbuckled at the time of the crash. • From 2010–2014, there were 398 children killed while riding in the front seat. • In 2014 alone, an estimated 112,000 children under the age of 13 were injured in car crashes. • In 2014, 252 children under age 5 were saved because they were riding in the correct car seats. Choosing the Right Car Seat The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a variety of resources for parents who are shopping for new car seats or for those wondering when their child is ready to move up into a larger car seat or booster seat. Whether you are using a new or used car seat, take your car seat to a certified car seat inspection station to ensure it is the right child safety seat for your child’s age and size. Register your car seat with the manufacturer so you can get important updates about potential safety recalls. Finally, remember that all child passengers under the age of 13 years old need to ride in the back seat.
Keep kids in car seats until they pass the 5-step test. Most kids need a booster seat until they’re between ages 10–12, but you may be
wondering when is the best time to retire their booster seats. A child can ride safely without a booster seat after you can say yes to all parts of the five-step test.
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Can they ride with their back against the vehicle seat?
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Do their knees bend at the edge of the seat and are their feet flat on the ground?
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Does the lap belt rest on top of their thighs?
Is the shoulder belt between their neck and shoulder? Can they sit calmly and comfortably for the duration of the drive?
Many other safety recommendations come with using car seats, so read the directions for your model carefully and have a certified technician install your child’s car seat for the best results.
2 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
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