Travel Has Changed, But Car Seat Safety Remains
Car crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children. In many cases, these deaths and injuries can be prevented by use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts.
To keep your child protected in the event of a crash, here are some child passenger safety tips and reminders.
Finding the Right Fit
Any car seat sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards. The best seat for your child is one that fits their age, size and developmental level. The car seat should fit your vehicle(s) and will be easy enough to use correctly every time. Other considerations include your budget and lifestyle.
To help you select a car seat for your budget and lifestyle, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes Ease-of-Use Ratings (click on Car Seats).
Second-Hand Car Seats
Obtaining a used seat sounds economical, but you need to know the history of the car seat. Was it ever in a crash? NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash, even if a child wasn’t in the seat at the time. Some manufacturers recommend replacing their seats after any collision. Lastly, most car seats expire six to 10 years from the date of manufacture because materials can degrade over time and hidden damage could cause the seat to fail during a crash.
Make Changes as Your Child Grows
Read the car seat manual and the labels on your seat to see what adjustments might be necessary as your child grows. For example:
- For an infant, you might need to remove the seat’s body pillow, as these are often only for newborns and small babies. The recline angle may also need to be altered for a larger or older infant.
- The harness may need to be moved. When a child is rear-facing, harness straps should be routed at or slightly below their shoulders. For forward-facing, harness straps should be routed at or slightly above the shoulders.
- You might need to change your installation from lower anchors to the vehicle seat belt. All lower anchors are rated for a maximum weight of 65 pounds (total weight includes car safety seat and child). Always use the tether with a forward-facing car seat.
When Your Child Outgrows Their Car Seat
Your child outgrows their rear-facing seat when they reach the weight or height limits of the seat, according to the car seat manual instructions. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat. Most of these seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for two years or more.
Your child outgrows their forward-facing seat when they reach the weight or height limits of the seat, according to the car seat manual instructions. The AAP recommends that once a child reaches the rear-facing weight or height limit for their convertible seat, they should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Many seats can accommodate children up to 65 pounds.
Booster Seats and Seat Belts
It is best to wait until your child is five to six years old to use a booster. At that point, they should have the right physical development and be mature enough to wear the lap and shoulder belt properly – no slouching, leaning or putting the belt behind their head or under their arm. Both New York and Vermont require a car seat or booster for children until they are 8 years old, but a child older than 8 years old should continue to use a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits properly. It is safest to keep children under the age of 13 in the back seat.
Get a Car Seat Fitting
Get current information and have your child’s seat checked in your vehicle by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at a car seat fitting (inspection) station or event. In most cases, an appointment for an inspection is required at a fitting station but not for an event.
List of fitting stations:
- Vermont - http://www.beseatsmart.org/permanent-car-seat-fitting-stations.php
- New York - https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/child-safety-seat-inspection-stations
List of car seat inspection events:
- Vermont - http://www.beseatsmart.org/calendar-of-events.php
- New York - http://www.safeny.ny.gov/seat-cal.htm
Usafiri Umebadilika, Lakini Usalama wa Viti vya Gari Unabaki Aksidenti za Gari Ni Kisababishi Kikuu cha Kifo na Majeraha kwa Watoto Katika visa vingi, vifo na majeraha hayo yaweza kuzuiwa kwa kutumia viti vya gari, vifungo vya kuimarisha, na mikanda ya usalama. Ili kuokoa maisha ya watoto wako katika ajali, hapa ni baadhi ya vidokezo vya usalama na mapendekezo ya usalama kwa watoto. Kupata kiti cha gari kinachofaa Kila kiti cha gari kinachouzwa nchini Marekani lazima kikubaliane na viwango vya usalama vya serikali. Kiti bora kwa mtoto wako ni moja ambayo inafaa umri wake, ukubwa na kiwango cha maendeleo. Kiti cha gari lazima kiwe kinafaa gari lako na kitakuwa rahisi kutumia kwa usahihi kila wakati. Vitu vingine vinavyohitajika ni bajeti yako na mtindo wako wa maisha. Ili kukusaidia kuchagua kiti cha gari kwa bajeti yako na mtindo wa maisha, Usimamizi wa Kitaifa wa Usalama wa Trafiki ya Barabara (NHTSA) huchapisha viwango vya urahisi wa matumizi (bonyeza kwenye viti vya gari). Viti vya Gari vya Nyuma Kupata kiti cha gari kilichotumiwa kunaonekana kuwa cha kiuchumi, lakini unahitaji kujua historia ya kiti cha gari. Je, iligongana na gari? NHTSA inapendekeza kubadilisha kiti cha gari baada ya ajali ya wastani au kali, hata kama mtoto hakuwa kwenye kiti wakati huo. Watengenezaji fulani hupendekeza kubadili viti vyao baada ya mgongano wowote. Viti vya magari vimeisha miaka 6 hadi 10 baada ya kutengenezwa kwa sababu vifaa vinaweza kuharibika kwa muda na uharibifu uliofichwa unaweza kusababisha kiti kushindwa wakati wa ajali. Fanya Marekebisho Mtoto Wako Anapokua Soma mwongozo wa kiti cha gari na vitambulisho kwenye kiti chako ili uone marekebisho ambayo huenda yakawa muhimu mtoto wako anapokua. Kwa mfano: - Kwa ajili ya mtoto mchanga, unaweza kuhitaji kuondoa kiti cha mwili mto, kama hizi ni mara nyingi tu kwa ajili ya watoto wachanga na watoto wadogo. Huenda ikawa pia inahitaji kubadilishwa pembe ya kupumzika kwa ajili ya mtoto mkubwa au mzee. - Huenda ikawa ni lazima kitambaa hicho kihamishwe. Mtoto anapokuwa amegeuka nyuma, kamba za mkanda zinapaswa kufungwa kwenye mabega yake au chini kidogo. Kwa mbele-kuangalia, harness straps lazima routed katika au kidogo juu ya mabega. - Unaweza kuhitaji kubadilisha ufungaji wako kutoka nanga ya chini kwa ukanda wa usalama wa gari. Vifaa vyote vya chini vya kuunganisha vimewekwa kwa uzito wa juu wa pauni 65 (uzito wa jumla ni pamoja na kiti cha usalama cha gari na mtoto). Sikuzote tumia kamba ya kuunganisha na kiti cha gari kinachoelekea mbele. Mtoto wako anapozidi ukubwa wa kiti cha gari, mtoto wako anapozidi ukubwa wa kiti cha nyuma wakati anafikia uzito au urefu wa kiti, kulingana na maagizo ya mkufu wa kiti cha gari. Chuo cha Marekani cha Pediatrics (AAP) inapendekeza kwamba watoto wachanga na watoto wadogo kusafiri katika kiti cha usalama nyuma-kuelekea nyuma kwa muda mrefu iwezekanavyo, mpaka wao kufikia uzito wa juu au urefu kuruhusiwa na kiti cha gari yao. Viti hivi vimewekwa mipaka ambayo itawawezesha watoto kuendesha gari wakiwa wamekabiliwa na nyuma kwa miaka miwili au zaidi. Mtoto wako hukua zaidi ya kiti chake cha mbele wakati anapofikia uzito au urefu wa kiti, kulingana na maagizo ya mwongozo wa kiti cha gari. AAP inapendekeza kwamba mara baada ya mtoto kufikia uzito wa nyuma au urefu wa kikomo kwa kiti chao cha kubadilisha, wanapaswa kutumia kiti cha mbele na harness kwa muda mrefu iwezekanavyo, hadi uzito wa juu au urefu ulioruhusiwa na mtengenezaji wa kiti cha usalama wa gari. Viti hivyo vinaweza kubeba watoto wenye uzito wa zaidi ya pauni 65 na zaidi. Viti vya usalama na Viti vya usalama Ni bora kusubiri mpaka mtoto wako awe na umri wa miaka mitano hadi sita ili kutumia kiti cha usalama. Wakati huo, wanapaswa kuwa na maendeleo sahihi ya kimwili na kuwa na ukomavu wa kutosha kuvaa mshipi wa kiuno na bega kwa usahihi - hakuna slouching, leaning au kuweka mshipi nyuma ya kichwa chao au chini ya mkono wao. New York na Vermont zinahitaji kiti cha gari au booster kwa watoto hadi umri wa miaka 8, lakini mtoto zaidi ya miaka 8 lazima aendelee kutumia kiti cha booster hadi ukanda wa usalama wa watu wazima uingie vizuri. Ni salama zaidi kuweka watoto chini ya umri wa miaka 13 kwenye kiti cha nyuma. Kupata kiti cha gari: Kupata habari ya sasa na kuwa na kiti cha mtoto wako kukaguliwa katika gari lako na mtaalamu wa usalama wa abiria wa watoto aliyehitimu katika kituo cha kukagua kiti cha gari au tukio. Katika visa vingi, miadi kwa ajili ya ukaguzi inahitajika katika kituo cha fitting lakini si kwa ajili ya tukio. "Mfano wa ""Vermont"" ni ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" (Vermont) na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont"" na ""Vermont."