Car Seat Safety

This week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been promoting Child Passenger Safety and using a car seat correctly is a large topic.

One of the leading causes of death in children up to age 13 in the US is motor vehicle injuries. Parents should know that these deaths are mostly preventable and we are going to share the best way to prevent these deaths.

According to NHTSA, “Car seats and boosters are one of the easiest ways to keep your child safe and, when installed correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.”

This statistic is why it is so important for parents to ensure they are installing the right seats and installing them correctly. Yet research has shown that a staggering 59% of car seats are not installed correctly.

As children grow the correct seat and way to install the seat changes. The order of proper seats for your children goes in this order: 

  1. Rear facing car seat
  2. Forward facing car seat
  3. Booster seat
  4. Seat belt

The CDC posted a graphic of guidelines for parents and caregivers to follow that makes it easier to follow the series of seats to keep your children safe: 

Things to keep in mind

  • Ensure you are always seating your children in the middle seat
    -Preferably the middle of the back seat as this is the safest spot
  • Never seat them in front of an airbag
  • No trip is too short to ensure the proper safety measures are in place
  • Register your car seat online in case of a safety recall

Additional Resources

Below are some additional resources that include information on the timing or car seat changes, explanation on the different type of seats,  installation instructions, and even on finding a location for parents to get their car seat inspected. 

NHTSA

CDC

National Child Passenger Safety Certification

Contact: Glisson Law