Page 17 - Explore Your AAA – AAA Southern Pennsylvania – November/December 2020

Safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for all children. Child restraints, or car seats, reduce the risk of injury by approximately 80 percent and reduce the risk of death by nearly 30 percent in comparison to children in seat belts alone. Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45 percent among four to eight-year-olds when compared to the
seat belt alone.
Research shows that seat belts and safety
seats — when properly used — are the most effective tools in preventing injuries and deaths in vehicle crashes. Seat belts and car seats contact the strongest parts of the body, spread crash forces over a wide area, help slow down the body and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Below are five common car seat mistakes and how to avoid them:
Moving your child out of a booster seat too soon.
Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children. Keep your children in booster seats until the seat belt fits them properly. Children should be able to sit with their back against the seat, knees bending at the edge of the seat and feet touching the floor. The lap belt should be positioned low across their hips and upper thighs with the shoulder belt across their chest and collarbone. Depending on your child’s growth and development,
a seat belt typically fits correctly between ages 8 to 12.
Not installing the car seat tightly enough.
If the seat belt or lower anchor connection is too loose, the car seat will not stay put, subjecting your child to greater crash forces. The car seat should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than one inch when tested at the belt path.
Turning your child forward facing too soon.
Children in the second year of life are five times less likely to die or be seriously injured in a crash if they ride in a rear-facing car seat. Turning a child forward facing before age two can result in head, neck or spinal cord injury
due to their underdeveloped bodies. A child should
remain in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until
they reach the upper
weight or height limit
allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child outgrows a rear-facing infant seat, switch to a
rear-facing convertible car seat with higher height and weight limits.
Adding additional padding, toys or mirrors to your child’s car seat.
Using products that have not been
tested with the car seat may interfere
with how the seat was designed to perform in a crash. Loose items, such as mirrors, can also become a dangerous projectile
in a sudden stop or crash. Only use products that come with the seat or are recommended by the seat manufacturer. Be sure to secure all loose items in a vehicle trunk or storage space.
Wearing bulky coats and sweaters while buckled into a car seat.
Unapproved padding, including coats and sweaters, placed behind or under the harness can compress in a crash, creating slack in
the harness system. Place blankets or jackets over the child after the harness is snug
and secure.
For more child car seat safety tips and information, and to find your local seat inspection location, visit seatcheck.org.
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