Installing child car seats suck but there’s no denying how important properly using these devices is to saving lives and minimizing injuries during an accident. Using a booster seat or regular seat belt when your child gets older is just as vital.
These are the messages we at City Dads Group want to reinforce with all our moms and dads as we start National Child Passenger Safety Week 2018.
Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. An average of two children under age 13 were killed per day in 2016 while riding in a vehicle, according to national statistics. Many times those deaths, along with various non-fatal injuries, could have been prevented with proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts.
But what constitutes proper use?
Most parents have wondered at one time or another whether the child restraint system they are using is properly installed or even just the right one for their child’s age, height and weight .
City Dads Group has put together this list of car seat resources to make your life easier and the life of your child safer:
- How to find the right car seat – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- How to install a child safety seat – DMV.gov
- National Child Passenger Safety Week main site — Includes guides, checklists and more
- Precious cargo in the city: Child car seat / booster seat safety FAQ – NYC Dads Group/Britax (downloadable PDF)
Get child car seats inspected by an expert
If you already have a child car seats installed in your vehicles, you should have an expert look at it to make sure everything is just right. Since Sept. 29 is National Seat Check Saturday, check your local media or with your local police departments for inspection locations being set up in your area that day. You can also use these sites any time of year for inspections:
- Find a certified child passenger safety technician – SafeKids.org
- Find a NHTSA Car Seat Inspection station — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Leave a Reply