Join us for a Child Passenger Safety Twitter Chat on September 16 |
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
September 11, 2015
Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 in the USA? In 2013, a child under 13 was involved in a crash every 33 seconds.
We are reaching out to you on behalf of the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ask for your support during Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 13-19, 2015) and National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 19). You can join NHTSA during the Child Passenger Safety Twitter Chat on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. ET for safety tips and facts on car seats and booster seats.
One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week is to encourage parents and caregivers to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to determine if their child is in the right seat for his or her age and size and to locate a car seat inspection event in their area. Additionally, parents and caregivers will be urged to register their child’s car seat with the manufacturer so as to be informed in the event of a recall.
During Child Passenger Safety Week, will you help us spread awareness about the importance of having “the right seat” and “the right fit”? Here are a few simple ways you can help:
>>“Is Your Child In The Right Seat?” Write a blog post about Child Passenger Safety Week to encourage parents to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to determine if their child is in the right seat for his or her age and size.
>>“Is Your Seat Installed Properly?” Attend a car seat inspection event in your area and share the experience on your blog:
Installation Resources: If a car seat is not installed correctly, your child's safety could be compromised. Every car seat has different installation instructions. You can find resources and tips here to help you get “the right fit” on your car seats. Free Car Seat Inspections: During Child Passenger Safety Week, there will be events across the country where Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will inspect car seats and show parents and caregivers how to correctly install and use them. In most cases, this service is free of charge. Locate a car seat check event here.
How confident are you that your child’s car seat or booster is #therightseat? Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. Many parents may not realize their child is in the wrong car seat. Visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat and make sure your child is riding safely. #therightseat To locate a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area, go to SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat or download the free SaferCar app from the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Register your car seat and booster seat at SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat so you will be informed if there is a safety recall on your model.
Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age and allows some room growth. Not all car seats fit in all vehicles, so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle. Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works and how to install it. All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time, which physicians and safety experts strongly recommend.
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as they fit the car seat. Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Be certain you've installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Bring the car seat instructions AND the vehicle owner’s manual with you to a seat check appointment!