Child Seat Safety

1. Most fatal crashes occur at speeds less than 40 mph and close to home so CONSTANT use of safety seats is vital.

2. If a child seat has been involved in a CRASH, don't use it; it would be difficult to know if it's integrity has been preserved.

3. Even though 65% of children are restrained in some form of safety device, there is 30% significant error rate on the part of the user.  It's very important to carefully FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS.

4. Car Seats need to have been made after Jan.1, 1981 to be crash-tested and approved by the Federal Government and meet "STD213-80" criteria.

Protect Your Kids in the Car

The safest place for any child 12 years old and under is the back seat.  Every child should be buckled in a child safety seat, a booster seat, or with a lap/shoulder belt, if it fits.

Riding with Babies 

• Infants up to about 20 pounds and up to 1 year old must ride in a rear-facing child seat.

• The child seat must be in the BACK seat and face the rear of the car, van or truck.

• Babies riding in a car must never face front.  In a crash or sudden stop, the baby's neck can be hurt badly.

• Infants in car seats must never ride in the front seat of a car with air bags.  In a crash, the air bag can hit the car seat and hurt or kill the baby.  Never hold your baby in your lap when you are riding in the car.  In a crash or sudden stop, your child can be hurt badly or killed.

Riding with Young Children

• Kids over 20 pounds and at least 1 year old should ride in a car seat that faces the front of the car, van or truck.

• It is best to keep kids in the forward facing car seat for as long as they fit comfortably in it.

• Older kids over 40 pounds should ride in a booster seat until the car's lap and shoulder belts fit right.  The lap belt must fit low and snug n their hips.  The shoulder belt must not cross their face or neck.

• Never put the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm.

Remember. . .

• All kids are safest in the back seat, safety seat or seat belt.

• Always read the child seat instructions and the car owner's manual.

• Test the child seat to ensure a snug fit by pulling the base to either side or toward the front of the car.

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The information in this article was provided by:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration