Take the time to spread the message of how important Child Passenger Safety week really is!
I am sure at some point in your life you have heard someone say “No one wore car seats in my day, and we all turned out ok.” That may be true – but I think I will take raw data over anecdotes from people “back in the day.” Wouldn’t you? The facts are simple, really – Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
For most of us, grabbing our gear and running out the door and hoping in the car is an everyday occurrence. Maybe you are headed to work, a play date, or on vacation – but we spend a lot of times in our cars. When we have little ones, we put them in their car seat and buckle them up without a second thought to whether or not they are in the right seat. We trust that they are safe – and we go on our way.
Did you know that every 33 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States?
Car seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury. But over half of car seats are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness and 1 in 3 children killed in car crashes are completely unrestrained at the time of the crash.
Can you imagine? Thinking that your child is in the right car seat, only to find out that they aren’t!
- Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age.
- Not all car seats fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
- Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works.
- All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
- Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The information here can help you choose the right seat for your child. Keep in mind that:
- Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as possible.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
- Be certain you’ve installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a certified child passenger safety technician. Bring the Car Seat Instructions AND the Vehicle Owner’s Manual with you to a seat check appointment!
Get this message out to your friends and family!
- Twitter – Many parents do not realize their child is in the wrong car seat. Visit gov/TheRightSeat and make sure your child is riding safely. #therightseat.
- Facebook – Storks know how to keep kids safe. Do you? Visit safercar.gov/therightseat to know for sure that your child is in the right seat for their age and size. #STORKS #TheRightSeat
Amy Green says
This is a really helpful and thorough post. My mom always made sure we were safe and secure when leaving the house in our car. She always made sure we were either buckled in or secured in our safety seat(s). With more distracted drivers nowadays, with problems like texting, it’s important for people to remember just how important child car safety is.
Bridget Combs says
It’s terrifying to think how back in the day we would ride around with no seatbelts, in the front seat, laying in rear windows. I can’t even imagine how many children would have been saved had child restraint laws been in effect back then.
Sarah L says
Hard to believe that 40 years ago child seats were not mandatory.
clojo9372 says
These statistics are absolutely frightening to me and I’m not a parent, so I could only imagine how it is for a new mom and dad! Thanks for getting this information out there. Forewarned is Forearmed. 🙂
benjamin bubb says
It’s always good to be safe in the car, too many people get hurt…safety first!
Sue Mullaney says
This is really helpful information! I don’t have any kids myself, but my nephew and his wife have 2 young daughters; I’ll have to pass this on to them; thanks for posting.
Jerry Marquardt says
Thank you so much for shedding some light on this all important week. I am glad that I was able to learn form your great post.
Quanda says
Child Passenger Safety should be the first question to come to mind when loading your children into the vehicle. Every 33 seconds…it’s so sad.
debbie jane de dios says
technology and innovation has done really good in our time.
wendy browne says
I plan to make an appointment to get my baby’s seat checked. I don’t feel that it is installed properly.
Sarah L says
Need to know how your seat works and how to buckle it up properly.
Nancy Burgess says
These are great tips.Everyone should read the proper way to install their car seat according to the manufacturer instructions.
Menno says
Its a must these dayz to protect kids.
So good gear needed.
Kelly Freeman says
thanks for the reminders. I have four kids three years apart and it’s hard to keep track of what seat each one needs to be in
Ghalmi Chokri says
Safety first! Thank you for these important tips!
Christina G. says
I had no idea that car crashes were the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. That is really scary. Thanks for posting!
Sandra Watts says
This is good to know information. Thanks for sharing it. I pinned as well.
Lynne B says
With all the research and information drives these days, along with automakers installing those anchor clips, it’s much easier to ensure that car seats are installed properly. And as another commenter stated, it’s hard to believe that they weren’t always mandatory! My parents were from that generation and sometimes would ask to take my child out of the car seat because he/she was fussing.
Cindy McKean says
I think things were much different “back in the day”, they were slower. People need to be at a quicker pace now so they can get their kids to daycare or school and then to work or other appointments. I get worried when I see people not buckling up there kids when they just go to the corner store.
Lynne B says
This is such good information. With all the research that’s been done over the years, there’s reliable information about passenger safety.
violet taylor says
too many people do this wrong, including my kids dad! i wish people would listen
Christina G. says
It’s so important to learn the right way installation procedures. Thanks for posting!
Kristyn Moses says
Thanks for Posting this as a reminder to call using carseats