Is Your Child's Safety Seat Truly Safe?

Sandy Grinnell — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:53:21 GMT

National Child Passenger Safety Seat Week is September 12 - 19, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Auto accidents are the number one cause of death in children between the ages of 2 and 14. The cause of death is primarily due to the child not being properly restrained in a child safety seat, improper use or installation of a safety seat, or an older child not wearing a seat belt.

As your child grows, the safety seat must be suitable for his or her age and size. But with the numerous selections available, how does one choose? The Child Passenger Safety page of the NHTSA website details the proper selection of your child's safety seat for four stages of a child's life - baby, toddler, child, and tween.

Now that you have the right child restraint seat, do you know if you installed it correctly? Many children die in their child seat because of improper installation or the child's seat does not match the vehicle. NHTSA recommends using the LATCH system - Lower Anchors and Tethers (Restraints) for Children. According to NHTSA:

Nearly every car seat and most vehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002, are required to have the LATCH system. LATCH makes it easier to get the child seat in right – the first time and every time.

The website also has demonstration videos to show you how to properly install your child's seat. Then if you're still not sure, contact one of the local child seat inspection stations that offer free inspections.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

New Program Will Match Children's Car Seats with Appropriate Vehicles

Sandy Grinnell — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:21:28 GMT

After the Chicago Tribune found that not all child restraint seats perform the same way in different vehicles, on Friday the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new system whereby automakers would test each of the childrens car seats in their own vehicles. The automakers would then be able to recommend child restraint seats for each model at various price points.

The Tribune found National Highway Traffice Safety Administration (NHTA) test results on car seats buried in voluminous 2008 vehicle crash tests reports. Those test results showed that almost half of the infant car seats "failed catastrophically or exceeded injury liimits when federal inspectors installed them in 2008 cars and trucks and crashed them at 35 miles per hour."

“Infants and children are our most precious cargo,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We need to constantly improve our track record and help parents to choose a child seat that fits in their vehicle.”

To look at the 2008 NHTSA crash test results, go to www.chicagotribune.com/testresults. All brands of car seats are listed with the various automobiles. If you click on the blue test number, you can see more details and pictures.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer - Child Restraint Seats

Is Your Child's Safety Seat Truly Safe?

New Program Will Match Children's Car Seats with Appropriate Vehicles