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No Excuses--Buckle Up!!
“Five siblings died when the pickup truck their
father was driving was struck head-on by another pickup truck traveling
in the wrong lane, and none of children appeared to be in seat belts”
the State Patrol said Wednesday.”
“A 3-year-old girl was killed in a crash on the
State thruway when she was ejected from the back seat on Wednesday after
the sport utility vehicle was struck by a sedan. It is thought that the
child probably unbuckled herself from her child car seat, the state
police said yesterday.”
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“A mother faces charges for the murder of her 3
year old child, who died in a car crash. She also faces charges of child
abuse and neglect for the injuries suffered by her other three children
ages 6 months, 18 months and 4 years old. According to authorities, none
of the four children where in car seats and the mother had been
previously cited twice for not having her children in car seats.”
These are all shocking and extreme cases where a
parents failure to buckle up or enforce the use of restraints with their
children have brought on catastrophic results. Even though most parents
think this would never happen to them, believe that their children are
safe and that they have installed their child’s car seat properly,
SAFE KIDS estimates that 4 out of every 5 children who is placed in a
car seat is improperly restrained. In 2002 a SAFE KIDS Campaign found
that 81.6 percent of child restraints were used incorrectly, with an
average of three errors per restraint.
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Therefore it is very important that all the
necessary precautions be taken to ensure that the car seat has been
properly installed into you vehicle and that your child has been
properly restrained in a child passenger restraint that is appropriate
for their age and weight, BEFORE you even start you vehicle.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Make sure you purchase a car
seat that is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, and
height.
- Do not purchase a second
hand car seat, at a yard sale, or swap meet, etc. (You do not
know if that car seat has been in a crash, or if it has all the
correct and appropriate parts.)
- The best car seat is one
that fits your child, your car, and your needs.
- ALWAYS read the instruction
manual BEFORE you install the car seat. (Not all car seat are
the same, and may have slight differences such as age and weight
limits)
- After the car seat has been
installed you should not be able to move it more than an inch in
any direction.
- The retainer clip on the
harness should be at the child’s chest (level with their
armpits)
- Test to ensure that the
harness straps are tight enough. (Pinch both sides of the
harness straps at the child’s shoulders, at the same time. If
you can pinch any fabric, the harness is too loose.)
- If you have a doubt or any
questions contact a certified technician, or have your car seat
inspected at a check up site. (Safely On the Move Resource
Hotline Toll Free 1 866 700 7686)
- Do not rush to move your
child into the next car seat, or to get them out of a booster
seat, and into a lap/shoulder belt only. (Some children need to
ride in a booster seat until they are 8 or even 10 years old.)
If you have any questions or need a LOW cost car
seat please call Sara Woo at 619 594-0784 or toll free 1 866 700 7686
Resources:
Duchossois, Gina P. MS, Child
Passenger Safety, Your Child’s Health, Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, January 2006.
6th Annual BUA
Report National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2002, DOT HS
809 823
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