It is estimated that 80% of children who ride in vehicles are improperly restrained. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in children ages 1 thru 14. This is why it is important for parents and day care providers to know how to properly buckle children up. When parents or care providers properly use safety restraint systems they are not only protecting a child's life, but they are instilling knowledge and good safety habits in the child. It only takes a second to buckle up

Carseat Use

• Read the car safety seat manufacturer's instructions and always keep them with the car safety seat along with a copy of the purchase reciept.
• The rear seat of a vehicle is the safest place for children of all ages.
• Children 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This can cut their risk of death by as much as 36%.
• Children should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt. For most children, this is around 8 years old or 4' 9" tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.
• Never place a child in a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an active passenger airbag.
• Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 30 or 35 pounds in most current convertible seats unless they outgrow it by height first.
• Child safety seats must not be used on side-facing or rear-facing jump seats.
• Children are should never be allowed to ride in the cargo compartment of a pickup truck, van or sport utility vehicle.
• All car seats currently available in the US market pass government safety standards. Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your budget. Some models do have different features; select one that has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY trip.
• Make sure that the harness fits snug on your child, the carseat fits snug in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
• Avoid car seats that are sold in yard sales, flea markets etc. You will not be notified by the manufacturer of recalls, defects or other safety related information if you purchased the seat second hand. Also, the seat could also have been damaged in a previous accident. Do not risk your child's life. Buy a new seat.
• Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.
• Children learn from example, that is why you should properly wear your seatbelt whenever you are driving.
• Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your own seatbelt all the time. These two simple steps are among these easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or death.