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Most fatal crashes
occur at speeds less than 40 mph and close to home so
CONSTANT use of safety seats is vital.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Infants up to about
20 pounds and up to 1 year old must ride in a rear-facing child seat.
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The child seat must
be in the BACK seat and face the rear of the
car, van or truck.
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Babies riding in a
car must never face front. In a crash or sudden stop, the baby's neck can
be hurt badly.
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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.
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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.
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Never put the
shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm.
Remember. . .
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All kids are safest
in the back seat, safety seat or seat belt.
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Always read the
child seat instructions and the car owner's manual.
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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 |
