Car Seat Safety Tips - They Just Might Save a Life

Each year, thousands of young children are killed in auto accidents. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for children. It seems as if the most dangerous age period is between the ages of four and eight when there is a question as to if a child should still be in a booster seat or just in a seat belt. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the parents had the right information to ensure that they are using the correct type of seat for the child's age and weight and if the seat is installed correctly.

An astonishing fact is that 80% of all car seats are not installed properly, which in turn will not save a child's life in an auto accident. Depending on where you live, there are usually car seat safety inspections going on nearby. Many of the police departments as well as fire departments will do a car seat safety inspection. A few times a year, Babies R Us sponsors a safety inspection as well, usually free of charge.

Each state has different laws on car seat usage. In the state of PA, a child under the age of four needs to be in a car seat or booster seat. Most states are the same way. Babies that have not yet reached their first birthday and are not over twenty pounds need to be rear facing. The child needs to be both, over twelve months old and over twenty pounds, to be turned facing forward. A baby that is eight months old and twenty five pounds still needs to be rear facing as does a fifteen month old baby that is eighteen pounds. Just because a baby is able to sit up on their own, does not mean that the baby's spinal column is developed enough to protect the spinal cord in the event of an auto crash. Many rear facing car seats can now safely seat a baby up to twenty two to twenty four pounds, depending on the brand. This way, you can keep your baby rear facing a little longer just to be safe. Once the baby's head is at the top of the seat, it is time to turn that baby facing forward.

Children, regardless of their age should always be seated in the back seat, especially if there are airbags present in the vehicle. Airbags deploy at 150-210 mph in 1/20th of a second, which is half the time it takes you to blink. There is usually no reaction time. Although an airbag can save an adult's life in an accident, it can kill a child. Airbags also burn faces pretty badly. This would be even worse for a small child. The backseat is the safest place in a vehicle for any child. You should never, under any circumstances, put a car seat, rear or forward facing, in a front seat with an airbag. That is one of the most unsafest practices done by many parents.

LATCH is a newer system being used now. All vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, are equipped with the LATCH system. LATCH stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. The system consists of built in straps and hooks on the safety seat and built in hardware in the vehicle. This system keeps the safety seat in the proper position, if installed correctly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that if people use the LATCH system correctly, it can save as many as fifty children each year and injuries can be reduced by about 3000 children.

There are many options out there in car seats. Newborn car seats are used until the child is old enough and weighs enough to be forward facing. Newborn seats are always used rear facing. Then when the child is ready to be turned facing forward, a convertible car seat can be used. This type of seat can usually hold a child up to thirty to forty pounds. Some even turn into a booster seat by removing the straps and using the car's seat belt. There are also booster seats, high back and low back booster seats. These seats are for children that are over forty pounds and usually around four years old. These are used until it is time to be in a regular seat belt. Whatever seat you decide to use, make sure that you have all the instructions and manufacturer phone numbers in case of a recall, which sometimes does happen. You should also never buy a used car seat unless it is in great shape with no cracks or dents in it. It should also have all original manufacturer labels on it with the instructions and phone numbers on it as well.

If a car seat is in a car that is involved in a moderate to serious accident, it should be discarded. If the airbags deployed, the car seat should be thrown away as well. The car seat may not be 100% after a serious car accident so it is best to buy a new one for your child's safety. Before putting the old car seat out to the curb for garbage pickup, it is advisable to cut all the straps and break the handle to ensure that someone doesn't pick it up for their use.

I was in a serious auto accident this past December. A Toys R US tractor trailer rear ended a Dodge Neon, going the opposite way that I was, and pushed him head on into my minivan at about 50 mph. My husband was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and my four kids were in the middle and back rows of the minivan. The Neon came across the front into the front passenger side of the van. My airbag deployed and I had my seat belt on. Those two factors saved my life. I would not be here today typing this story if I didn't have a seat belt on and airbags in my minivan. My ten year old was in the third row, driver's side, with a seat belt on. Her only injury was abrasions and bruising due to the seat belt. My two year old was next to her. He was in a car seat, sleeping when the accident happened. When I got back to him, his head was flopped over in front of him and he wasn't responding to my screaming. I took him out of his car seat and kept screaming for him to wake up. Now this is a child that doesn't sleep well so it was confusing to me how he slept through the accident, his sister screaming next to him and all of the other noises such as the sirens and people all around us. After about three to four minutes, the longest three to four minutes of my life, he finally opened his eyes. We all believe that he was unconscious. Thankfully, he was acting himself by the time the ambulance got there. My three year old was in the middle row, driver's side, in a booster seat. His only injury was some bruising from the seat belt. Next to him, was my eleven month old, who was about to turn one year old four days later. He was in a car seat, still rear facing since he was not yet a year old and he just turned twenty pounds. He had no injuries and actually never even cried during the whole ordeal. My husband, the driver, had a broken foot and some neck pain. Also some lacerations on his legs. Nothing too serious. I had a broken arm, bruising all up and down my left side and a bloody face due to the airbag. My left contact was pulled out of my eye by the airbag and my shoes were pinned down to the floor since the heater box collapsed out of the dashboard onto my feet. I was able to get my feet out of my shoes, probably due to adrenaline, because my kids needed me. They were scared and hurt.

We are all lucky to be alive. The seat belts were the reason we are so lucky. The car seats were too. Had we not had our kids in the appropriate car seats, they might not be here today driving me crazy. It is a good crazy!! No one on the scene could believe that I walked out of that car on my own, holding my son, with my broken arm. Without that seat belt and the airbag, I wouldn't be here today enjoying my children. I urge everyone to always wear a seat belt and keep their kids in car seats or booster seats and seat belts. You can be the best driver in the world, but that doesn't mean that the car next to you or the car that is passing you in the other direction is as well. We were in no way at fault for this accident. We are at fault for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was nothing that my husband could have done to prevent it either. It happened so fast. I remember hearing him say "Oh my.." and that was it. That is how fast it happened.

We need to all work together to keep the next generation safe. If you can go to a safety seat inspection, do it. If not, go to a local police or fire station and someone there can help to determine if your car seat is properly installed. An improperly installed car seat is not going to save a child's life. Make sure you are using the equipment correctly. It only takes a second to click on that seat belt. Save your life by using it. Remember my story when you get into your car next. We didn't plan on it happening and I am sure you don't either when you get behind the wheel. Be safe and let's keep our children safe as well!!