Safety Tips: Seat Belts and Car Seats |

Safety Tips: Seat Belts and Car Seats

Posted on September 3, 2014

Hello there! Although I am talking about back to school this week, seat belts and car seats are important year round. One night when I was working in the ER as a resident on a particularly busy night, I asked a EMT how important seat belts are in preventing serious injuries during car accidents. He told me that he had never cut a dead person out of their seat belt after an accident. But… it’s got to be bucked to work!!!

Always make sure children are properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height and weight.

Know the stages:

Birth up to age 2 – Rear-facing car seat. For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

Age 2 up to at least age 5 – Forward-facing car seat. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat, until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly – Booster seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (by reaching the upper height or weight limit of their seat), they should be buckled in a belt positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Remember to keep children properly buckled in the back seat for the best possible protection.

Once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat – Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). The recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 57 inches tall. For the best possible protection keep children properly buckled in the back seat.

Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat’s owner’s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. It is suprising to me how often car seats are incorrectly installed!

Buckle all children ages 12 and under in the back seat! Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag.
Buckle children in the middle of the back seat when possible, because it is the safest spot in the vehicle.
Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip, no matter how short. Most car accidents occur close to home!!
And remember to ALWAYS using your own seat belt.
Join me tomorrow when I talk about teen drivers.

There still is time to get your free reward!
Simply, take my school safety weekly quiz and receive my Dr. Laurie mini-
(yet very useful) first aid kit.