10 Carseat Safety Tips
According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 72 percent of nearly 3,500 observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.
The National Safety Council reports that car accidents are the #1 killer of children between the ages of 3 and 14 in the United States. Child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts offer the best protection for young passengers. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by up to 71 percent.
As 2014 gets underway, now is an ideal time to brush up on car seat safety. Here are 10 car seat safety tips every parent should heed:
1) Never buy a used car seat.
A car seat can help prevent a child from injury or death, so it’s imperative to buy a new car seat for every child, every time. There’s no way to know if a used car seat has been involved in a car accident, has been properly maintained, or is in danger of failing. Someone who is eager to sell a used car seat may not reveal the item’s full history. It’s simply not worth taking the chance.
2) Use the “LATCH” anchor only when your child AND the car seat weigh more than 65 pounds.
In February 2014, new labels identifying weight limits for child car seats will officially go into effect in the United States. Manufacturers will be required by law to alert consumers that “LATCH” (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) anchors are suitable for a maximum combined weight of 65 pounds, which includes the child and the car seat. When your child and the car seat weigh more than 65 pounds, it’s safer use a seat belt with the car seat, rather than a LATCH anchor. Why the change? LATCH anchors can fail in vehicles during a car accident when the combined weight of the child and the car seat is too great.
3) Pay attention to car seat expiration dates.
Car seats expire, just like meat, milk, or eggs. That’s because technology improves, standards change, and materials erode or degrade. Over time, the seat base can develop tiny fractures that can shatter in the event of a car accident. Restraint belts can become looser after years of heavy use, potentially causing a car seat to fail.
4) Make sure harness straps fit snugly.
A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 59 percent of child harnesses are not tight enough. Loose harness straps can leave a child at an elevated risk of injury during an accident and could potentially cause ejection from the child seat during a crash. The easiest way to check if your children’s harness straps are too loose is to do the “pinch test.” Secure your child in the car seat and buckle the harness. Using your thumb and your index finger, pinch one of the harness straps at your child’s collarbone level. If you’re able to pinch the strap, the harness isn’t tight enough. A properly installed car seat shouldn’t have any excess slack in the harness straps.
5) Use the LATCH anchor OR a seat belt, but never both at the same time.
Some parents install their car seats with the LATCH anchor and the seat belt, thinking they’re being “extra safe.” However, the exact opposite is true. A car seat is designed to absorb impact during an accident to help protect the child. Using the LATCH anchor and a seat belt simultaneously can place too much stress on the car seat, potentially encouraging the seat to fail and possibly causing injury to the child.
6) Position the chest clip at the child’s armpit level.
In a collision, a car seat’s chest clip can potentially cause internal bleeding to vital organs if it isn’t installed correctly. The chest clip is designed to keep harness straps properly positioned on a child’s shoulders, so that the child is adequately restrained. If the harness is loose and the chest clip is too low, one or both harness straps can slide off the child’s shoulders, potentially allowing the child to be ejected from the car seat in the event of a crash.
7) Make sure the car seat is securely installed.
If a car seat is properly installed, it should move no more than one inch from side-to-side. A loosely installed car seat could become airborne, strike the window, or hit another passenger in the event of a car accident. Keep your installation tight to help keep your child safe.
8) Replace a car seat if it’s been involved in an accident.
Never re-use a car seat that has been involved in a crash, even a relatively minor one. Most car seat manufacturers recommend replacing a car seat that has been involved in an accident. Even when damage to the car seat isn’t immediately visible, structural damage may have occurred, which could impair the seat’s ability to protect a child. It’s just not worth the risk.
9) Don’t attach aftermarket products to a car seat.
Resist the urge to attach toys, mirrors and other cute items to your child’s car seat. If it didn’t come with your car seat, it isn’t safe to use with your car seat. That’s because these objects can affect the way the harness fits or alter the car seat’s performance in the event of a collision. In addition, these items could potentially nullify the manufacturer’s warranty in the event of a car seat failure during a car accident.
10) Never wash car seat straps.
Car seat straps can get dirty, sticky and stained, but they have been coated with important fire-retardant chemicals that can be compromised in the washing machine. Additionally, washing straps with strong detergents can weaken their integrity, potentially causing them to fail in an accident. Instead, if the straps need to be cleaned, simply wipe them with a damp washcloth.
For more information about how to install a car seat, download the Safe Kids Car Seat Checklist for Parents.
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