Child Passenger Safety Week: Keeping Child Passenger Safe
September 21st-27th is Child Passenger Safety Week. Highway safety experts encourage proper use of car seats to protect children, riding the rear seats, and safe habits.
If you are driving with a young child in the car, do not take off without properly setting up the car seat.
According to non-commercial safe children around the world, “A car seat used correctly can reduce the risk of death by up to 71%.” However, the group said on its website that “more than half of the car seats have not been properly used or installed.”
Make sure your car seats are in the right place and make sure your child is tightly tied up, and in the case of a crash, you’ll be much safer.
Here’s a guide on how to properly install your car seat.
Make sure you have a seat that is the right size for your child
Do research before placing your child in the car seat.
The device can have different height and weight requirements, so make sure you have purchased a car seat suitable for your child. When used correctly, the seat can reduce the risk of crashing by up to 71%.
Your state law is another important thing to follow before you buy. Find out when to keep it in a rear-facing car seat and when to switch to something you look at.
Find the perfect place to place your car seat
For children under 13, the best place to stay is in the back seat. If you are deciding to place your car seat in the second or third row of a large vehicle, read the owner’s manual and decide where to place your child’s seat.
The safest place in the car is the middle seat in the rear, so if the seat fits, you’ll want to put your child there.
How to start the installation
There are two basic ways to connect a car seat to a car seat. First, you can place the seat down and connect the seat belt to the base to stay in place.
You can also use children’s anchors and tethers to set up the seats. Connect the lower attachment of the car seat to the anchor bar of the seat and use a top tether for all front seats. Whichever configuration you use, it fits perfectly on your car seat, but we do not recommend using the seat belt base and latch at the same time.
Inch Test
Try using an inch test to make sure the car seat is in place. Start by grabbing an empty car seat and shake it left and right. If you move more than one inch in each direction, reduce it. If it doesn’t work, you can go.
I’ll put your child in the seat
Pick them up, place them on the car seat, then click on the harness and click in place. All children under the age of 5 must be placed in a 5-point harness. This should sit at armpit height for maximum protection. Try a pinch test to make sure they are well-fixed. This test can be done by pinching the strap near the shoulder. If the strap doesn’t move, it’s fine. If you can trip, it’s not tight enough.
Get help from experts
If you are unsure how to install a car seat, you can contact an expert who can help you.
According to the GM owner’s manual, “Certified Child Passenger Safety Engineers (CPSTs) are available to inspect and demonstrate how to properly use and install child restraints. In the United States, please refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to determine availability of CPSTs.
Always make sure your child’s car seat is properly installed before you start driving. Even if you installed it correctly before, it’s not a pain to double check. If the child is properly equipped in the seat, they will be much safer if they are involved in a collision.
