The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Center for Disease Control report motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Many of these deaths can be prevented. Always buckling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts reduce serious and fatal injuries by up to 80%.
Fun Fact, I am a certified car seat technician. When my oldest son Turner was born 7 years ago, I learned that I was guilty of incorrectly installing his car seat. I quickly found out that 75 percent of all car seats are installed incorrectly.
At that point, I decided I wanted to help educate parents across Western North Carolina to ensure our kiddos are as safe as possible. I have been hosting an annual car seat safety event and seat checks for the last seven years called Buckle Up, Baby. During these events, we have found that typically 90% of all parents who attend an event to have their seat checked, find that their seats are installed incorrectly. The error may be minor – a twisted belt – or something major like a car seat expiration – however, 90% of seats had needed some sort of adjustment.
The third week in September is always Child Passenger Safety Week – which is this week! The week focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. The national campaign urges parents and caregivers to protect their children making sure they secure them in the correct car seat for their age, height, and weight.
I am typically part of an organized event or seat checking event – however, COVID19 has deterred that this year. So like most things, I plan to do some virtual education this week to help parents make sure their little ones are safe and secure in their car seats!
Check back here throughout the week for tips, Q&As, and other information about Child Passenger Safety!
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