Safety Tips: Car Seats
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Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged 4 to 14 years. While child safety seats saved 269 lives in 2001, a staggering 649 children still lost their lives in car accidents that year. (Source: Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2001.)
For infants under 1 year old, child safety seats have been shown to reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71%. For children aged 1 to 4 years, the risk reduction is 54%. Given that most car accidents occur close to home, it is crucial to use child safety seats consistently, even for short trips within the neighborhood.
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It is extremely unsafe to place a child on an adult's lap in a moving vehicle. In the event of a crash at 30 miles per hour, the force of impact could propel the child from the lap with a force equivalent to 200 pounds. Always use an appropriate child safety seat, never place a child on an adult's lap.
Child safety seats should be purchased and ready for use by the time a newborn leaves the hospital. There are various types of car seats available, so it is important to choose one based on the child's age, size, and weight, as well as the vehicle's latch or safety belt system.
Types of Car Seats
For guidance on choosing the right car seat, visit www.safercar.gov, where you can enter your child's birth date, weight, and height to find appropriate options. There are a few types of car seats:
- Rear-Facing Car Seat: Used from birth until at least age 1. This is the safest position for your child, so keep them rear-facing for as long as possible, according to the seat's height and weight limits. Upgrade the seat once your child exceeds these limits.
- Forward-Facing Car Seat: Use a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness and tether until your child reaches the seat's recommended height and weight limits, typically between ages 4 and 7.
- Booster Seat: Use a booster with a back if the car's back seat is not high enough to support the child’s head. The lap belt should lie across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should fit snugly across the shoulders without crossing the neck, head, or face. After age 8, if your child is large enough, you can consider transitioning out of the booster seat. The back seat remains the safest place for children up to age 12. Always use a seatbelt with a shoulder strap.
Car Seat Installation
Ensure your car seat label indicates that it conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully.
Many local resources, such as the store where you purchased the seat, police stations, fire stations, and hospitals, also offer assistance with car seat installation.
The back seat is the safest location for any child safety seat. Complete and return the registration card included with your car seat to the manufacturer to receive updates on recalls and other safety issues. For further information or to report concerns, you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393, which provides updates on recalled car seats.
