Proper Use of Child Car Safety Seats
In the first issue of Roman & Roman’s first newsletter, The Roman Counselor, we gave tips regarding the use of car safety seats for children. After the news of the death of a local 3 month old infant last week as a result of a car accident, I feel compelled to repeat those tips in this blog. Thousands of children are killed or injured in car crashes each year. Many of these deaths and injuries may be prevented by the proper use of a child car safety seat. Below are some helpful tips for the use of child car safety seats from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Always place your baby in car safety seat
- Never place a child in a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger air bag
- All children younger than 13 years are safest in the back seat
- Always wear your seat belt and be a good role model to your children
- Make sure that you read the instructions for your safety seat as all seats are different
- All infants should ride in rear facing car seats until they are at least one year old and weigh at least twenty pounds
- Travel vests can be used for a child who has outgrown his harnessed seat but is not ready for a booster seat
- An adult seatbelt normally does not fit a child until that child reaches 4’9″ in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age.
For additional safety information for the use of car safety seats check out the website for the American Association of Pediatrics www.aap.org.
