Safe and smart car travel for children once again comes into focus with the observance of National Child Passenger Safety Week in February.
THE RIGHT FIT
Bisnar & Chase want to remind you that especially when it comes to car safety children's bodies need the right protection. The right protection for children, because of their body size, is different than for adults. Children are smaller, shorter and more fragile. In addition it should be pointed out that children have head sizes that are proportionately larger and rib cages that are thinner than adults.
Many adults may still be incorrectly using safety restraints and placing the children in their cars at risk. Some experts cite figures as high as 80% to 90% of safety restraints are incorrectly used or installed.
What you should know about protecting children in cars
The back seat remains the safest place for children ages 12 and under to ride while in a car.
Smaller children with a weight ranging from 20 to 40 pounds should be seated in a forward facing safety seat while in the back.
Children in a weight range of 40 - 80 pounds should ride in the back seat with a belt-positioning booster seat and lap shoulder belt.
Booster seats boost a child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belt fit properly. When placed in a poorly fitted seat belt, the belt can lose its effectiveness and place your child's protection at risk. A poor seat belt fit can actually cause serious injuries to the neck and face if the shoulder portion of the belt doesn't fit properly.
Shoulder belts are essential for the upper body protection they give. Children should never be allowed to place the shoulder portion of the belt behind their backs or under their arms. If they are allowed to do so they increase their risk of serious injury in the event of an accident.
Parents should always set the proper example by buckling themselves and checking to insure all other passengers are wearing their safety belts and using booster or child seats as age appropriate.
One Minute Child Car Safety Insurance Checklist
- Do you have and understand your car seat installation instructions?
- Have you read your car seat installation instruction manual?
- Are the harness straps at or below the infant's shoulders?
- Do the harness straps fit snugly? The straps should lie in a relatively straight line without sagging.
- Is the harness chest clip at the infant's armpit level? This keeps the harness straps positioned properly.
- Is your child in the right age and weight appropriate car seat?
- Are the harness straps threaded properly through the top slots?
- Does the harness fit snug resting across the collarbone and lying in a relatively straight line?
- Are children 40-80 pounds riding in the back seat with a booster seat using adult lap and shoulder straps?
- Is the lap belt low across the child's upper thigh area?
- If your child's feet can touch the floor then is his or her belt tight across the upper thighs
Frequently Asked Questions on Child
Passenger Safety
From the National Safety Council and The National Seat Belt
Coalition
Q: I feel I should always keep an eye on my infant, and I keep hearing that the safest place to put my infant is in the back seat. But if the seat has to be installed rear-facing, I can't see her! What should I do?
A: This is a concern of many parents. However, the bottom line is that the back seat is the safest place for a child of any age to ride. Drivers who travel alone should allow plenty of time to pull off the road if they feel the need to periodically check on the baby. You may want to compare your child traveling to your child sleeping. You probably don't watch your baby sleep all through the night. A healthy baby properly secured in a safety seat should not need constant watching.
Q: My children are at ages where they get restless in their car seats and try to move around. I find it very distracting. Plus they fight with each other. I think it's safer to put one of them up front where I can keep an eye on him.
A: No. The safest place is in the rear seat properly buckled. It is critical not to give in to a child's "growing pains" while traveling in a motor vehicle. Bring along some soft toys to keep them occupied while properly buckled up and seated in the back seat. This may sound difficult, but never take short cuts when it comes to children's safety.
Q: I have trouble securing my child safety seat in my car. It doesn't seem to work well with my seat belt system. What am I doing wrong?
A: You may not be doing anything wrong. Some child safety seats and some vehicle belt systems are not compatible. The most important thing to do is read the instructions that come with the child seat (and keep them handy at all times) and all sections in the vehicle manual that discuss safety seat installation. Never undertake "make shift" measures. Your child should fit securely in the safety seat and the safety seat should fit securely in the vehicle seat. If it doesn't, contact the car seat manufacturer.
Q: I have three children and my back seat only seats two. I transport all three kids to school and other activities. I've heard that children belong in the rear seat. What can I do?
A: You're right. The safest place is the rear seat. However, there are times when placing all children in the rear isn't possible (as in your case where there aren't enough belts for all three children). If you must seat a child in the front seat, usually the oldest/largest child would be the most appropriate. If your child is the proper size, make sure that the lap and shoulder belts are properly fastened and move the vehicle seat back as far as possible away from the dashboard.
NOTE: If your vehicle has a passenger-side air bag, the only place for a rear-facing infant seat to be installed is in the rear seat. For more information go to; http://www.nsc.org
During National Child Passenger Safety Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced an allegations settlement of $75,000 as a civil penalty on the part of MTS Products Inc. of Northridge, California. The allegation was directed to a failure to report serious defects with its infant carriers. Under the Consumer Product Safety Act manufacturers, retailers and distributors must report defects to the commission immediately.
The item in question involves infant carriers under the names of names "J. Mason Infant Carriers" (Model number 12502), "Squiggles" (Model number 12505), and "Aurora Dreams" (Model number 12506).
The white plastic infant carrier comes with a fabric seat pad and matching removable sunshade canopy. The fabric comes in the following designs: 1) multicolored fabric (pink, blue, white and green) with a geometric pattern, 2) light blue fabric with white squiggly lines, or 3) light blue fabric with pink and purple patterns. "J. MASON" is imprinted on the carrier's handle, which can be used to convert the carrier to a rocking or feeding position. "MADE IN U.S.A." is imprinted on the bottom of the carrier and there is a red sticker on the bottom of the carrier that reads, "Warning: Do Not Use As A Car Seat."
Consumers who have the recalled carrier should call MTS at (800) 242-1922 to receive a free replacement infant carrier. For more specific information on this product go to; click here for more
Car seat recommendations from Parenting.com
- Century's Bravo LX ($150) offers an indicator that tells you when the seat is level and an adjustable base for correct positioning every time. It also has a five-point harness; three shoulder heights, a removable pillow, and a front-access belting system for easier threading. (Rear-facing to 30 pounds; forward-facing 20 to 40 pounds)
- Strolex's Sit 'n' Stroll ($200) is a car seat that has retractable wheels and a pull-up handle to transform it into a stroller. (Rear-facing to 22 pounds; forward-facing 20 to 40 pounds)
- Many babies hit the 20-pound mark before their first birthday, which is why Cosco's Opus 35 infant seat ($80 to $110) holds babies rear-facing (the safest position) up to 35 pounds. Its base has four reclining positions and a headrest that adjusts in tandem with the five-point harness so there's never a need to rethread belts. (5 to 35 pounds)
- Century's Breverra Metro Youth car seat ($70) features a high-back seat and headrest for support, a five-point harness system for toddlers, and a belt positioner for older children using regular shoulder belts. (30 to 80 pounds)
- Evenflo's Express Comfort Touch ($60) is plush and practical, with a three-position adjustable harness, a two-position crotch strap, armrests, and extra seat padding. (20 to 80 pounds)
- For preemies or babies who have difficulty breathing while upright, a car bed may be your best choice for that first ride home from the hospital (ask your doctor). Cosco's Ultra Dream Ride car bed/car seat ($70) lies flat and later converts into a regular rear-facing infant seat, which holds babies up to 20 pounds.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
National Safety Council; http://www.nsc.org
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S CHILD SEAT
SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN LISTING
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm
Bisnar & Chase has been holding wrongdoers accountable for the damages they cause since 1978. We are a committed group of skilled professionals, focused on the representation of the seriously injured. We are aggressive, accomplished and feared by insurance companies, corporate wrongdoers and their law firms.
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