Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 13 in the USA? The fatality rate could be reduced by about half if the correct child safety seat were always used.
Bloggin’ Mamas is supporting the Ad Council and The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by sharing the word about Child Passenger Safety Week this week (September 14-20).
One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week is to encourage parents and caregivers to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat; to determine if their child is in the right seat for his or her age and size and to locate a car seat check event in their area. Additionally, parents and caregivers should be sure to register their child’s car seat with the manufacturer so as to be informed in the event of a recall.
Safety seats, if used correctly, dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury to children. However, research shows that three out of every four car seats are not used correctly, meaning the child is not in the correct car seat for their age, height and weight, or the car seat is not installed correctly. In 2012, over one third (37%) of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts.
Resources
o Installation Resources: If a car seat is not installed correctly, your child’s safety could be in danger. Every car seat has different installation instructions. You can find resources and tips here to help you get “the right fit” on your car seats: http://www.safercar.gov/parents/RightFit.htm;
o Free Car Seat Checks: During Child Passenger Safety Week, there will be more than 600 events in 45 states across the country, where certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car seats and show parents and caregivers how to correctly install and use them. In most cases, this service is free of charge. Locate a car seat check event here: http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm?;
Car Seat Safety Tips:
- Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age.
- Not all car seats fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
- Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works.
- All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
- Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The information here can help you choose the right seat for your child. Keep in mind that:
o Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
o Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as possible.
o Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
Be certain you’ve installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a certified child passenger safety technician. Bring the Car Seat Instructions AND the Vehicle Owner’s Manual with you to a seat check appointment!
Check out this Infograph to help you check if you have #TheRightSeat and join @NHTSAgov on 9/17/14 from 3p-4p EST for a Twitter Chat where you can ask questions you might have about your car seat.
And to make sure you have #TheRightSeat, Bloggin’ Mamas is giving away a $100 Amazon giftcard so you can buy one!
Giveaway begins September 17th, 2014 at 12:01 am and ends October 1st, 2014 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to US residents age 18 and older. Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. See Rafflecopter widget below for full terms & conditions.
Disclosure: I am sharing this post on behalf of Bloggin’ Mamas. I was not compensated for this post and am not responsible for prize fulfillment. For questions concerning prize fulfillment, please contact Bloggin’ Mamas directly.
Yes, we are using the correct seat for my grandson.
I’m happy to say ours are in the correct and safe car seats!
yes we are
yes, all of my grandchildren have safe seat belts, thanks
I like that they emphasize on keeping your child in the back seat, I don’t know how many times I have seen a little one in front , I always tell the parents what if someone hit you, do you not love your child enough to protect him/her
I am surprised but I am using the correct car seat based on my child’s weight, date of birth, and height!
Yes We are using the right car seat. We’ve been vigilant about this from the start.
Yes, we are using the correct car seat.
Yes, I am using the right car seat.
we’ve got it right!
We are using the correct one!
yes we are using the correct car seats for my two sons
I don’t have children, but thank you for sharing this information with us.
Looks like we are good. I also have built in car seats in my van.
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Yes, we are using the right one 🙂
We leave our Grandchildren’s car seats I our car and had their Dad install them so they are safe.
yes the car seat we are waiting for conforms .
We are using the right car seats for our kids! It’s so important for parents to use their car seats properly and it baffles me to see so many picture on Facebook of kids with loose straps and forward facing before one.
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What great information! Thankfully we are using the correct car seat and we use the seat belt the right way as well!
We are using the right car seat and we are using it correctly!
No kids anymore. 40 years ago car seats weren’t even required.
This is a great thing to do. It needs to go more public and national to raise awareness everywhere.
Yep, we are using the right seat for our child.
The little one isn’t here yet, but thanks for the information.
Thanks for the giveaway! =)
I learned that every 34 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a crash.
I’m definitely not using the right car seat, because I don’t have children yet! But I sure do love the!
I am using the correct car seat based on my child’s weight, date of birth, and height!
We are definitely using the right seat. I love this information and will be sharing. My town does a car seat check yearly. We just had one last month.
I can’t believe that every 30 seconds a child is hurt in a car accident!…We must make sure that car seats are safely installed.
Yes, we are!
We are using the rights seats for our children.
Yes. We are using the correct seat. My daughter is 2 and a half. She is currently in a convertible. We are very concerned about car seat safety.
I learned that every 34 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a crash.
looks like we have the right one
Yes, it’s the right one! 🙂
Thank goodness we did!
Yes we are using the right seat for our son. We turned him around earlier than I wanted to (at 15 months) because he is a big boy and was throwing out my husbands back (literally) so we switched him around. Weight wise he was ready but still….I love our Britax car seat and cant wait to get one of their boosters for our son
I checked and my nephews have the correct seats!!! Phew!
Yes, I am using the right seat for all 3 of my kids. I always make sure to look at the manual when purchasing anything for my kids, and their car seats are the biggest concern. I always make sure that they are installed correctly as well.
From the Infograph I learned that every 34 seconds, one child age 13 is involved in a crash. This is an incredibly scary and sad fact that I will anything in my power to avoid with my children.