Child car seat safety

1. Most fatal crashes occur at speeds less then 40 miles per hour and close to home so constant use of safety seats is vital.
2. If a child seat has been involved in a crash, don't use it; it would be difficult to know if its integrity has been preserved.
3. Even though 65 percent of children are restrained in some form of safety device, there is a 30 percent significant error rate on the part of the user. It's very important to carefully follow manufacturer's instructions.
4. Car seats need to have been made after Jan. 1, 1981 to be crash-tested and approved by the Federal Government and meet "STD 213-80" criteria.
5. Children are safest in the back seat of the car. There is a lot of controversy about passenger-side air bags and the danger to child-size people.
6. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA-800-424-9393) has new, tougher criteria for car seats that went into effect in January 1996 for add-on and will go into effect for built-in September 1996 car seats.
7. There are four basic types of child restraints. Use a child's weight and height, not just age to determine what type of seat they belong in.
8. Infant seat - newborns to small infants, up to 20 pounds (normal weight of a nine-month-old).
9. Premature babies may need to lay flat due to breathing difficulties. Discuss their needs with a pediatrician before leaving hospital.
10. All infant seats should be rear-facing, preferably in the middle of the back seat and should never be in the front seat of a car with a passenger-side air bag.
11. Convertible seats - infant to 40 pounds; can be rear or forward-facing and have protection at chest level.
12. Supplementary "I" buckles are needed to properly adapt seat belts for use. Check with manufacturer or car dealer.
13. Booster seats - for children too big for convertible (40 to 60 pounds) car seats; they may have shields or harnesses.
14. If a child uses a seat belt too soon, they risk neck and spinal cord injuries from an ill-fitting shoulder strap. A booster seat raises them to the right height.
15. Don't use a "shield" style car seat for a child that wears eyeglasses. These car seats may also increase the chance for abdominal injury.
16. If a child is 48 inches or taller they should use a seat belt. Don't let a child put the shoulder strap behind them. If they need to, it's a good sign that they still could use a booster seat.
17. Make sure all adults are using seat belts. Any unfastened passenger becomes a huge danger even to a properly belted or seated child.
18. Damaged seat belts should be replaced not repaired.