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Keeping Kids Safe in the Car

Keeping your kids safe in the car

by Mary Calvagna, MS

Jack’s soccer practice at 4:30

Cassidy’s karate class at 5:15

Corinne’s Girl Scout meeting at 6:00

Oh, the life of a parent…sometimes you are not sure if you are a mom or a chauffeur. After a while, driving your kids to all their activities may start to seem like a mindless task. But it is important to stay alert. Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 14 and younger?

Buckle up for safety

The first step you can take in protecting your children in the car is to buckle them up. Riding unrestrained or improperly restrained in a car is the single greatest risk factor for death and injury for children. And safety experts believe that anywhere from 80 to 90% of child safety seats are used incorrectly.

Tips to keep tots safe

The following tips can help ensure that your child has a safe ride:

Always use a car seat.

When a car seat is correctly installed and used, it can reduce the risk of death for infants by 71% and for toddlers by 54%. Make sure you have the right car for your child’s age and size.

Infant seat – designed for birth to 20 pounds, and at least one year of age. This is a rear-facing seat.

Convertible seat – designed for 20 to 40 pounds, and up to four years old. This seat is a rear-facing seat for infants that converts to a forward-facing seat for toddlers.

Booster seat – designed for 50 to 80 pounds, and up to eight years old. This seat is used as a transition to safety belts. It is for children who have outgrown their convertible seat but are not ready for a seat belt only.

Seat belt – designed for over 80 pounds and eight years or older. When a child is sitting all the way back in the car’s seat, the lap belt should fit across the child’s hip, not stomach. The shoulder belt should cross at the center of the child’s shoulder.

Never place rear-facing infant seats in the front seat

If it makes you nervous to not be able to see your baby’s face, allow enough time so that you can pull off the road and check your baby.

Always use an approved car seat.

And make sure your car seat is compatible with your car.

Periodically check for recall notices on car seats.

You can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site for recall notices (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov).

Know when to replace your baby’s car seat.

Do not use a car seat that is 10 years old or older. It is recommended that you buy a new car seat for each child. Replace any car seat that has been in a crash.

Do not take your child out of the car seat while the car is on.

This holds true even if your child is fussing or crying.

Never leave a child unattended in the car.

Even if you are running into the store for just a second, take your child with you.

Children should ride in the back seat whenever possible.

If there is an airbag in the front, do not put a child under age 12 in the front seat. Children are safer the farther they are from the point of impact, which is commonly the front of the car.

Riding in a car is not a game. Make sure your children know that your attention must be on the road and not them. Bring along some soft toys to keep them occupied.>BR>

Be a good role model for your child. Always wear your seat belt.

For more information about child safety, visit the National Safe Kids Campaign website at http://www.safekids.org.

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