Family Tragedy Promotes Need for 5-point Harness Booster Seats
Their mission began as a simple tribute video for Kyle that they posted on YouTube.com. The four minute video shares the story of their son's life and also shares information about how a booster seat failed to save him. News of the video quickly spread through e-mail messages and on Internet chat rooms and message boards. Three months later, the site has received over two million hits.
"We just sent it out to friends and family, not really thinking it would be a public service announcement," Kyle's mother Christine Miller said in a recent television interview with KPRC Local 2 news in Houston, TX. "I put it on and within 24 hours, it had over 100,000 people look at it. I would check a few hours later and 100,000 more people looked at it. You can't even conceive that there are that many people out there."
Most five-point harness car seat systems can only be used with children through 40 pounds. At that point, the seat becomes a booster seat without the five point harness or the child must transition to a booster seat. Currently, there are only two five-point harness car seats available for children weighing more than 40 pounds and prior to the Miller's efforts to educate the public, the seats were only available online.
Kyle's mother said that after the accident, putting her daughter Katie back in the car was "the most terrifying thing you know." She knew that experts said that the five-point harness seats offered the most protection, but she had to search to find them. "I really had to look hard to find it. It is not just something you go to a store and get. I think that is the problem we had and most people have when their child grows out of their car seat. They go to the store to see what else there is and there are booster seats."
The Britax Regent includes a five point harness and can be used with children from 22 to 80 pounds. It retails for $269 and is currently back ordered. In June, all Babies 'R Us stores will begin carrying these seats in place of their booster seats. The Radian 80, manufactured by Sunshine Kids, can be used with children from birth through 80 pounds and also has a five point harness. It retails for $279 and is also on back order.
"These seats weren't popular sellers before. Now they can't keep them in stock," Miller said.
When the Millers realized the impact of their message, they decided to create the Kyle David Miller Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization. The goals of the foundation, as outlined on the website, include: raising car seat awareness, helping to provide car seats to those who cannot afford them, promoting legislation that will increase driver safety through more stringent testing standards, and working with auto manufacturers to improve seatbelts and other vehicle safety devices.
"The biggest fear when you lose a child is that they get forgotten about - that the world just keeps going without them and it is like they never were," Miller said. "As a parent, you are always struggling with a way to keep them alive ... keep their memory alive and I think that this foundation has really helped us tremendously."
Kyle's father Kevin said, "We know that we can't do anything physically for Kyle now, but through the foundation we can reach out to families that are in need of car seats."
In addition to the attention that the YouTube.com video has received, the family has also been featured on various TV news stations and has other appearances planned in the future.
"We couldn't have done this one on our own," Christine Miller said. "It is the thousands of people who have helped us to get this message out there. It's really neat. I had no idea it would take off the way it has."
Published by Melissa W
I have loved reading and writing from very early on and was pretty much content as a child as long as I had a book to read or a pen and paper to write with. I have worked as a school psychologist and have o... View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentThank you for sharing! Unfortunatly, its not until something terrible happens that the word gets out about things like this. I also hope many people look into the infant car seats that have a base and they detach from to be a carrier. Research well before buying one. I was in an accident and my 3 month old and the carrier portion were thrown from the vehicle when it detached during the collision. Luckily, our story didnt end like this one but it very well could have.
There are at least two more high weight harness seats on the market now...the graco nautilus which is widely available (wal-mart) and the Britax frontier. Both go up pretty high (65 lbs I think) in harness and then convert to high back booster. The nautilus is significantly cheaper than the other seats and we have one and love it!
Thank you so very much for the information about the 5 point harness... I have a 2 yr old that is 38 lbs and his carseat only goes up to 40 lbs. I was terrified of the thought of putting him in a booster seat at only 2 yrs old ,w/ only the seatbelt. As I searched online for a new carseat I saw Kyle's video and just fell inlove w/ him!!! I emailed this video to everyone I know... I am actually SHOCKED that this information is not more easily available to parents. I think doctors should be making us aware of this. I thank you again for making us aware of this important matter. Kyle is a beautiful child and I will always remember this lesson learned. THANK YOU !!!!!!
Absolutly heartbreaking for me to watch the video.I have a 3 year old.He is very energetic,full of life,has so much character in him and is always sporting a smile and full of laughter.As I type this in I have tears that fill my eyes.I could not imagin a day without him.THANK YOU for this article.A five point harness is all we will use from now on.God Bless You.
Wonderful article Melissa!! I was looking at Kyle's website and saw they have a link to THIS article. What a nice surprise! Carseat safety is a big deal.
Thank you for posting Kyle's story here. We welcome people to visit the foundation website at www.kyledavidmiller.org. The Cosco/Safety 1st Apex is a good deal, though only harnesses to 65lbs and we have heard reports that it is difficult to install in some vehicles. Please always make sure you have your car seat installation checked by a professional. You can locate your nearest car seat safety inspection station by going to http://seatcheck.org. Please keep your children rear-facing for as long as possible - do not be tempted to turn them around when they reach 20lbs and 1 year old.
I thank you so much for sharing your story -- I'm so sorry for your loss. I have a 5 year old who weighs just about 34lbs. He is currently in the Britax Marathon convertible seat which is good up until 65lbs. I was thinkging he may be ready for a booster since he is 5 and all his friends have one. But after reading your story, I will be keeping him in it. Thanks again.
Wow. I have my son in a standard booster seat, and is just over 40 lbs. I never thought that it was unsafe, or knew there was another (all be it very expensive) alternative. Thank you for the very informative article.
Thanks for the tip about the Apex....I hadn't heard about that one, but that is a great deal! Plus, you don't have to wait for them since they are on back order.
Thank you for your well-written article. I have seen this video through forwarded emails and message boards, but was only recently moved to do something about our car seat situation. Both of my kids will reach 40 pounds in the next few months, and I was dreading putting them in the booster with just a seatbelt. Thanks to many recommendations on a car seat message board, I decided to get a Cosco Apex car seat--a booster with a 5 point harness that goes up to 65 pounds. This seat is available online for $99 with free shipping and tax, so it is not as expensive as the Britax. I know I will have the peace of mind that my kids are as safe as possible while in our car. Thanks for bringing attention to this issue.