Car Seats: Using Them Correctly
Everyone knows small children should be in car seats, but many people forget one important detail: the car seats should be correctly installed, or their effectiveness diminishes greatly.
The police department in Roanoke, Virginia recently offered inspections of car seats, with the aid of Liberty Mutual Insurance. Such inspection services are becoming more common as people begin to be aware of the importance of not only using car seats, but using them correctly.
Here are some general tips to keep in mind about car seats:
-Reading all the instructions in the car seat manual is a must.
-Be careful that your child is not too big or too small for the seat. Do not put a newborn baby in a seat meant for larger children. It can also be dangerous to squeeze a child into a seat that is too small.
-Booster seats and combination seats are available for older children, who may be too small for regular adult seat belts until they are as old as eight.
-If your child is less than 1 year old and weighs less than 20 pounds, do not put him or her in a seat facing forward.
Other articles and resources to look at for information:
Safe Kids Worldwide: Preventing Injuries to Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Most car seats are used incorrectly
