CAR SEAT
SAFETY Author: Michelle Sterling, M. Ed, CPST Senior Wellness and Safety Specialist, Safe Kids Greater Tampa Coordinator BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Center
• Right Seat- make sure it is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, & height • Right Place- ride in the back seat until age 13 • Right Direction- Keep your child in a rear -facing car seat until at least age 2
Child safety seats, when correctly installed and used, are extremely effective in saving children’s lives, reducing the risk of death by as much as 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. Unfortunately, research indicates that 73 percent of child safety seats are used incorrectly, and previous studies have shown that figure to be as high as 93 percent in Hillsborough County. There is some good news though. The BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Center located at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital has certified child passenger safety seat technicians that provide child passenger safety seat inspections and educational classes throughout the community. Please visit Health and Safety Education: Mobile Services (baycare.org) to learn more about how you can have a car seat class or educational event at your location. ELCHC.ORG
Here are six things you can do to ensure your child is safe in their seat:
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• Inch Test- Once your car seat is installed, give it a tug from side to side at the belt path. Can you move it more than an inch from side-to-side? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch. • Pinch Test- Make sure the harness is tightly buckled & coming from the correct slots. Rearfacing should be at or below child’s shoulders; forward-facing should be at or above child’s shoulders. Place the chest clip at arm-pit level, pinch the strap-no excess webbing means you are good to go. • Keep children in a booster seat until they are at least 4’9” so the seat belt fits them correctly Your children will model your behavior, be sure to wear your seat belt so they will want to wear theirs as they get older.
