Car Seat Safety Power Point

1. Car Seat Safety 4 Out of 5 Car Seats are Used Wrong! Could YOURS be one of them?

2. QUESTIONS! Which car seat is best for my child? Where is the safest place to put a car seat? How do I get the car seat tight? How should my child sit in the seat?

3. QUESTIONS (continued) Is it OK to add toys to my child’s seat? What are some Do’s and Don’ts? How do I know if my seat has been recalled? Where can I have my seat inspected?

4. TEXAS LAW EVERY person in the car MUST buckle up! Must use a car seat or booster seat if under 8 years and under 4ft 9 inches tall. NOTE: The law is different from what is considered to be safest.

5. Cost of a Ticket Tickets may be up to $200 per person if a child or adult is not restrained right. EX: 3 children not in car seats or not buckled: 3 x 200=$600 ticket

6. Why Use a Car Seat? It’s the law! It is the SAFE thing to do! Your child is less likely to be hurt in a crash if in a car seat or booster seat!

7. What Happens in a Crash? To see how fast your child would fly around if not restrained correctly: Child’s weight X speed traveling=force of impact EX: 30 lb child X 40mph=1200 lbs of force

8. 4 Kinds of Car Seats Infant (use until about 20 lbs) Convertible (use until 40-70 lbs) Combination (harnessed seat to booster) Booster Seat (use until 80-100 lbs)

9. Infant Seat with Base Best fit for newborns Use rear-facing ONLY! Base adds convenience (install base & just take seat in and out of car) Weight limits vary,, check your seats limit!

10. Infant Seats Used up to about 20-32 lbs OR 26” long (whichever comes first.) (read labels on seat) Put handle back when driving Important to have correct angle (about 45 degrees) so head does not flop forward and close the airway.

11. Convertible Seats Use rear facing for baby who is too big for infant seat. Use turned forward facing AFTER baby is at least 1 year old AND at least 20 lbs. Best practice to rear face until weight limit of seat!

12. Combination Seats Harness until 40-65 lbs Then converts to a belt positioning booster up to about 100 pounds

13. Booster Seats Help the seatbelt fit correctly Low across the hips (not on tummy) Across the center of the chest (not on neck)

14. Booster Seats Use when child is 40-100 lbs or until about 4’9” tall Must use lap AND shoulder seat belt Use the comfort guide on the booster

15. Booster Seat Facts: Use of belt positioning boosters lowers the risk of injury to children in side impact crashes by 59% compared to those who ride only in a seatbelt. Children are not big enough to use a regular car seatbelt until they are 7-8 years old, or about 4’9” tall. Must be used with a lap AND shoulder seatbelt, never just a lap belt only.

16. Benefits of Boosters: Child is SAFER and more COMFORTABLE!!! Seatbelt doesn’t rub on child’s neck Can bend legs comfortably over vehicle seat Child can see out the window more easily. Use of booster seat eliminates “seatbelt syndrome” (spinal & abdominal injuries caused by lap belt only, no upper body protection)

17. Seat Belt Syndrome Orange=wrong Green=correct

18. Now you know WHICH seat you need, but WHERE do you place it in the car?

19. Where Should the Car Seat Go? #1 place is in the middle of back seat unless there are compatibility issues. 2nd safest place is behind passenger

20. Things that might cause problems: Trucks without an extended cab Fold down arm rest in middle Hump Narrow seating position (some SUVs) BIG car seat and small back seat Scooped out seats (especially sports cars) Seatbelt comes out of ceiling (middle position in some new SUVs)

21. Airbags NEVER put a car seat in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag. (even if there is an ON/OFF switch) Airbags come out at 150-200mph Airbags can kill children.

22. Once you’ve picked the location for the car seat, make sure you have it in the correct direction (based on age & weight of baby) and angle.

23. American Academy of Pediatrics states… Babies should stay rear-facing until they are AT LEAST 1 year old AND at least 20 lbs. New AAP Guidelines state rear facing until at least age 2! It is safest for them to stay rear-facing until they meet the maximum rear-facing weight limit of the seat or their head is 1 inch from top of the car seat. By staying rear-facing, their head, neck and spine are better protected in the event of a crash than if they were riding forward-facing.

24. Correct Angle for Rear-facing Seats To help get correct angle: Foot OUT on infant seat base Kickstand IN on convertible seats Noodles, towels

25. Angle Adjusters foot OUT put kickstand IN for rearfacing

26. Pool Noodles or a Rolled Towel

27. Convertible (Forward-facing) Make sure kickstand is outso that seat sits upright.

28. Find the Correct Belt Path

29. Know Your Kind of Seatbelt System Lock Mode=“car seat mode” Some do not “lock” so you need a locking clip(metal piece that comes with the car seat)

30. Locking Clip Used when car’s seatbelt will not “lock” Placed about 1 inch from buckle

31. SKIP the Next Step ONLY If: If you have a lap belt only seatbelt in the middle of the back seat You plan to use the LATCH system to install your car seat in one of the window seats.

32. To Identify YOUR seatbelt system: Gently pull shoulder belt portion of the seatbelt ALL the way out Start feeding it back in Try to pull it out again If you cannot pull seatbelt back out, you are in “lock mode”. No locking clip needed. You may have heard a “clicking” sound as you fed the seatbelt back in. If you can STILL pull seatbelt in and out, use a locking clip. Place it close to the buckle.

33. How to Use a Locking Clip Buckle car seat in through correct belt path. Put weight on car seat and pull slack out of seatbelt. Hold seatbelt pieces together on the side of the car seat OPPOSITE the buckle. Do not let go. Unbuckle seatbelt. Place locking clip about 1” from buckle. You can now let go of the pieces you were holding together. Re-buckle car seat in. You must put weight on car seat. It may look like it will not “reach.” May take several tries.

34. NOTE: Knowing which type of seatbelt system you have and knowing how to use the seatbelt the correct way is one of the keys to installing your child’s seat the right way so they are safe! For more help, have a certified car seat technician visit your car! (Each car is a little different)

35. To Install the Car Seat… Thread the seatbelt through the correctbelt path and buckle it in. Make sure the seatbelt is in “lock mode” (or: read directions or ask a tech how to use a locking clip) Put your weight on the car seat and pull seatbelt as tight as possible. (Feed excess into retractor.) Test for tightness. Car seat should not move more than 1” side to side or front to back when grasped atthe belt path.

36. LATCH (Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children) A new way to install car seat not using the vehicle’s seat belt. LATCH anchors are in 2002 and newer model vehicles. LATCH is not necessarily “better” than the seatbelt, just different. Use the method that gives a better, tighter fit. Anchors are generally located at the 2 window seats, not in the middle seat.

37. LATCH (Lower Anchors)

38. Top Tethers Used in the FORWARD-facing position ONLY, except for Britax or Sunshine Kids brand car seats. Top tether keeps the seat from moving at the top of the seat.

39. Top Tether Anchor Points May be on back dash in cars Under seat or on ceiling on some SUV’s In vehicles made after September, 2000

40. Baby in the Seat REAR-FACING Harness straps AT or BELOW shoulders Retainer clip at armpit level (this helps keep straps on shoulders and in correct position in event of a crash) Straps snug, no slack. (pinch test)

41. Baby in the Seat FORWARD-FACING Harnesses AT or ABOVEshoulders (some must be in top slots---read car seat instructions) Retainer clip at armpit level Straps snug, no slack. (pinch test)

42. Do NOT Use “After Market Products” DEF: Anything that is bought to go with the car seat after it is purchased. Not regulated Some can become missiles in a crash. EXAMPLES: THICK mats used on seat to protect leather. Halos that did not come with car seat. Toys Mirrors

43. Alternative to After Market Halo Use rolled receiving blankets instead of an after market halo on each side of head. Nothing above or behind baby.

44. Preemies MAY Need… Some preemies may need a “saddle” at the crotch to take up space and keep them pushed back in the car seat. Use a rolled washcloth.

45. REMEMBER! Always remove all bulky clothing before buckling baby into car seat. Jackets Sweaters Blankets

46. Replace Your Car Seat IF: Child has outgrown the seat Seat is older than 5 years old Seat is recalled (www.nhtsa.gov) You do not know the history of the seat

47. Replace Your Car Seat (con’t) You are in a crash AND any of the following are true: You could NOT drive your car from the crash site The vehicle door nearest the car seat was damaged Someone was hurt The airbags deployed There is visible damage to the car seat

48. Inspection Station Locations By appointment ONLY! 5 Houston area locations Medical Center Cypress Creek/FM 1960 Pasadena Gulfton Heights See yellow flyer for days, times & phone numbers