Child
Safety Seat Program
- Motor
vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death
for children age four to 14
.
- Keeping
children safe on the road means putting them in the right restraint at the
right age
.
Child Passenger Safety Technicians in
Baltimore
County
are working to make sure parents and child care providers know and follow
every one of the 4 Steps for Kids
including the essential booster seat step that is often missed
.
Securing your child in the
right restraint for their age every time they ride in a motor vehicle is one of
the most important things you can do to protect your child
.
There are many web sites to help you use car seats correctly
.
Here are some of the best -- listed by age group:
- Rear-Facing
Infant Seats in the back seat from birth to at least one year old
and at least 20 pounds
.
- Forward-Facing
Toddler Seats in the back seat from age one to about age four and
20 to 40 pounds
.
- Booster
Seats in the back seat from about age four and 40 pounds to at
least age eight, unless 4'9"
.
- Safety
Belts at age eight or older or taller than 4'9"
.
All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat
.
- Rear-facing
infant seats
Install your child safety seat properly with these instructions
and illustrations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Rear-facing
convertible seats
Learn to install your rear-facing convertible seat
with these instructions and examples from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
- Forward-facing
convertible seats
Learn to properly install your forward-facing
convertible child safety seat using these instructions and illustrations
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Forward-facing
seats
Learn to install your forward-facing child safety with
these examples from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Booster
seats (Children From About Age Four Until At Least
Age Eight or 4'9")
While most infants and toddlers ride in the right child safety seat, less
than 10 percent of the children who should be in booster seats use one
.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children
who have outgrown child safety seats be properly restrained in booster seats
in the back seat until they are at least eight years old, unless they are
4'9" tall
.
A booster seat lifts a child up so a safety belt can fit correctly
.
Without a booster seat, in a crash, a small child can be ejected from a
vehicle
.
- Kids
in the back please! According to national best practices, children of any
age and size are safest in the back seat
.
Those younger than 13 should never ride in a front seat equipped with an air
bag
.
Generally, experts recommend that children be 100 pounds and about 5 feet
tall before riding in the front
.
- Lap-shoulder
seat belts
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration illustrates the proper use of the standard lap-shoulder belt
.
Child
Passenger Safety Movies
If you would like to watch a short movie (3-4
minutes each) explaining correct use of each of the four types of restraints,
visit the Partners
for Child Passenger Safety
Child Passenger Safety Information
from the
National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
If you
have a Child Safety Seat in your motor vehicle, please
do the
American
Academy
of Pediatrics
Find
Up-to-Date Information
and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions at
- Safety
Belt Safe U.S.A.
- Quick
Checklist for Safety Seat Misuse
- Automobile
Restraints for Children with Special Needs
- Which
safety seat is the best for my child?
- But
my child won't stay in the car seat!
- Does
my child need a booster seat?
- Do
I need to replace a seat that's been in an accident?
- The
5-step test
-
.
.
.
and many more
Safety car seat
links:
http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/CPS/
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/Safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm
