Transcript Child Seat Safety

Child Seat Safety
Presented by
Bryant Nowlin
Lynchburg Police Department
Why Are We Here?
To promote Child Seat Safety
To help with the proper selection of a child
seat for a child
To help with the proper use of child seats
To help with the decision of when to go
with using a vehicle safety belt
Do child Safety Seats Work?
When used correctly they are up to:
71% effective in preventing fatalities.
69% effective in reducing need for
hospitalization.
50% effective in preventing minor injuries.
The facts of Child Seat Use
Motor Vehicle Crashes are the leading
cause of death for children of every age
from 0 to 14 years old.
An average of 7 children ages 0 – 15
years old were killed and 830 were injured
each day in crashes in the U.S. during
2002.
An average of 5 children ages 0 – 15
were killed and 646 were injured in 2004.
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
Although the number of deaths and
injuries went down. The number
unrestrained or improperly restrained
children 4 and older went up.
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
During 2004 1,859 children ages 0 – 15
were killed in passenger vehicles.
53% were unrestrained
(breakdown of group)
36% - 0 to 4 years old
52% - 5 to 9 years old
63% -10 to 15 years old
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
In 2004, there were 235,912 children
0 – 15 were injured in passenger vehicle
crashes.
(Breakdown of Group)
56,354 injured 0 – 4 years old
65,860 injured 5 – 9 years old
113,698 injured 10 – 15 years old
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
Data shows that the majority of the
occupants killed or injured were
unrestrained or improperly restrained.
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
Use of child restraints in vehicles falls from
91% to 69% when children reach age 4.
An estimated 80 – 90% of children who
should be using a booster seat are not.
More than 40% of child passengers under
the age 8 who die or suffer incapacitating
injuries in crashes were completely
unrestrained.
The Facts of Child Seat Safety
Nationwide the use of Child Safety Seats
is up over 90%.
The national average for misuse of Child
Safety Seats is up over 95%
The Average for misuse of Child Safety
Seats in the Lynchburg area is 98%
Virginia’s Child Restraint Law
(Code of Virginia Article 13 - Section 46.2-1095B)
Effective July 1, 2007: Children age 8
through age 15 (until age 16)
Child restraints are required for children
through the age of seven.
The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters,
friends) who provides transportation for a child in any vehicle
manufactured after January 1, 1968. Public transportation (taxis,
buses), regulation
school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted.
Virginia’s Child Restraint Law
(Code of Virginia Article 13 - Section 46.2-1095B)
Effective July 1, 2007: Children age 8
through age 15 (until age 16)
Child restraints are required for children
through the age of seven.
The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends) who
provides transportation for a child in any vehicle manufactured after January 1,
1968. Public transportation (taxis, buses), regulation
school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted.
Child Restraint Law
(Code of Virginia Article 13 - Section 46.2-1095A)
Major requirements of Virginia's Child Restraint Law:
Effective July 1, 2007: Child restraint devices are required
for children through the age of seven
(until 8th birthday).
Child restraint devices must be properly used and meet
standards adopted by the United States
Department of Transportation.
Child Restraint Law
• The safety seat law is primary enforcement no other
violation need be committed prior to ticketing for failure
to have a child in an approved seat.
• A $50 civil penalty fine is assessed for failure to
have a child in a safety seat (1st Offense), (2nd or
subsequence offenses up to $ 500 per violation).
•A $20 civil penalty fine is assessed when persons
transporting a child exempted due to medical
reasons do not carry a written statement of the
exemption.
•All fines collected go into a special fund to
purchase safety seats for low-income families.
Child Restraint Law
Effective July 1, 2007: Rear-facing child restraint devices must
be placed in the back seat of a vehicle. In the
event the vehicle does not have a back seat, the child restraint
device may be placed in the front passenger
seat only if the vehicle is either not equipped with a passenger
side airbag , an automatic shut off or pressure switch or the
passenger side airbag has
been deactivated.
Child Restraint Law
An infant in a rear-facing child restraint
should NEVER be positioned in the path
of a frontal air bag.
Air bags can cause serious injury or death to children,
especially infants in rear-facing child seats.
Choosing the Correct Seat
Things to consider when choosing a child
seat are:
What type seat should I get?
What is the height & weight of the Child
Will it fit your vehicle?
Is the seat new or used?
Will the seat be used correctly every time?
Types of Child Seats
Infant Carriers: Are for
rear-facing infants
from birth to 17- 22
pounds. There are
some models that
now have higher
weight ranges.
Types of Child Seats
Convertible Seats:
Can be used rearfacing or forward
facing (check label on
seat for maximum
weigh limits). The
Seats have a internal
harness system to
hold the child in
place.
Types of Child Seats
Toddler Seats: Are
forward-facing only
and use an internal
harness system like
convertible seats.
Some models can be
converted from a
toddler seat to a
booster seat.
Types of Child Seats
Booster Seats: Come in 2
types (High Back &
Low/Backless).
Both types are used for
older children when they
have reached the limit for
the internal harness
system of their Toddler
seat or Convertible seat.
Most models can be used
until the Child large
enough to use a standard
vehicle lap and shoulder
belt system.
How does Height & Weight affect
choosing a Seat?
All child safety seats are manufactured and
designed for specific children’s height & weight.
Each new seat will have a label on it giving the
minimum and maximum height & weight.
Child Safety seats with internal harnesses will
give you the maximum weight that the
manufacturer will guarantee the safety of the
seat.
Child Safety Seats & Your Car
NOT EVERY CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL FIT IN
YOUR CAR!
Bigger is not always better.
When buying a new seat some places will let
you take the seat out to your car to see if it can
properly be installed in your car before you take
it home (saving you from having to bring it back).
Always follow the installation instructions for the
seat.
REMEMBER IF IT DOEN’T FIT DON’T FORCE
IT!
New vs. Used Safety Seats
There is nothing wrong with using a used Child
Safety seat if:
1. You know the history of the seat.
2. It Has never been in a serious car crash.
3. The seat has all of the labels required
by federal law on it.
4. The seat is less than 6 years old.
5. See If the seat on the recall list & if so;
what for ?
New vs. Used Safety Seats
All new child safety seats should have a
registration card with it.
All new Child Safety sold in the U.S.
should have labels on it giving:
1. The date of manufacture
2. Model number
3. Expiration date of the seat (may be
stamped into the seat).
Using The Seat
The seat should be one that fits your car.
The Seat should be one fits your child.
The Seat should be one that will be used
correctly EVERYTIME.
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Proper installation of a child safety seat
will vary depending on whether the seat
will be:
Rear Facing
Forward Facing
Using LATCH (Forward or Rear Facing)
Installation of Child Safety Seats
When secured, the seat should move no more
than 1 inch side to side or front to back.
ALWAYS check for tightness at the belt path
being used.
Thick towels or blankets should no be used to
place under seats (They may compress and
leave the seat belt or LATCH straps loose).
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Rear Facing Seats (Infant Carrier / Convertible):
The back of the seat should be positioned no more than
45 degree angle (May require a noodle or rolled towel to
lift the base of the seat into the correct position. Always
check manual for correct angle.
If the seat has an angle indicator use it to insure proper
angle.
Improper angle of seat (too upright) could cut off the
child’s airway.
The belt path going through bottom of the seat should be
used whether using seat belt or LATCH (unless
otherwise recommended by the manufacturer).
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Ensure that the Harness straps are at or below
the rear facing child’s shoulders.
Ensure that the harness clip is at the child’s
armpits.
If it is a small child you use rolled up blankets
around the child to help positioning and wash
cloths to fill in around the crotch area of the seat
(but not under the child).
It is recommended to keep the child rear facing
to the maximum limits of the restraint.
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Forward Facing (Convertible/ Toddler):
Should be at least 80% on the seat (unless
otherwise recommended by the manufacturer).
Most have a weight limit on the internal harness
of 40 pounds (Seats with higher weight limits are
available).
Harness straps should be at or above the
shoulders and should be snug and straight.
Harness clip should be at arm pit level
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Forward Facing (Tray Shield seats):
Tray shield of the seat should be
positioned correctly
Shouldn’t be used with smaller children
will leave space between the child and
harness straps allowing child to be thrown
out.
Ensure harness clip is secure and at arm
pit level.
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Booster Seats:
(High Back/Low or No Back)
Both Seat need to be used with a lap and
shoulder belt.
Seat is used to bring child into the correct
position so that lap and shoulder belt fits the
child.
Make sure shoulder belt goes over the child’s
shoulder correctly.
Installation of Child Safety Seats
Location of seat in vehicles:
1. Back seat is best for all children.
2. Center rear is safest location (usually).
3. Sometimes front seat is a better option.
4. If a child has to be placed in the front seat
move back as far as possible.
5. NEVER PLACE REAR FACING
INFANT IN FRONT OF AN AIR BAG.
Installation of Child Safety Seats
(CSS)
Safest Location Considerations:
1. Vehicle seat design
2. Type of safety belt system or LATCH.
3. Needs of all passengers
(children & adults).
Installation of Child Safety Seats
(CSS)
Safest Location Considerations Contd.
4. Space Requirements
(size of seat & car).
5. Seat slopes
6. Tether strap length & location.
How to Install properly Install a
CSS
Make sure that the Harness straps a
configured in the correct slots.
Decide whether you are using the seatbelt
or LATCH for the installation.
Identify the position where the CSS will go.
Place the restraint the seat and run the
seatbelt or LATCH belt through the belt
path (NEVER USE BOTH unless
recommended by the manufacturer).
Proper Installation Continued:
Buckle the seatbelt to the buckle or attach the
LATCH hooks to the LATCH anchors.
Push down on the CSS and compress the
vehicle seat (taking the air out of the seat).
If using the seatbelt with a switchable retractor,
switch the seatbelt retractor to an automatic
mode.
Tighten the seatbelt and feed the extra belt back
to the retractor.
Then release the CSS.
Proper Installation Continued
If you have a seat belt that does not have a
switchable retractor you may a seat belt with a
locking latchplate or a free sliding latchplate.
If it is a locking latchplate you will connect it to
the buckle push down on the seat and pull the
slack out of the belt.
If it is a free sliding latchplate does not lock at
the retractor you may have to use a locking clip.
Proper Installation continued:
If using the LATCH system:
Push down on the CSS to take the air out
of the vehicle seat.
Tighten the LATCH belt and release the
CSS.
When Can I Use Seat Belts?
Lap and Shoulder belts are designed for adults (
height - 4’9”, weight -120 lbs.) and should not be
used by children until they reach that height or
the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
The weight of children use belts maybe less than
120 lbs.
Lap belts only should never be used to secure
children because of the possibility of causing
injuries in a crash ( No upper body protection).
What Do if I Have only Lap Belts in
my Car ?
If you have only lap belts in you car use
may want to consider using a Child
Restraint Vest.
The vest comes in different models and
sizes to fit different size children.
Most vest are designed with a 5 point
harness system.
Can I Place my Child in Front of an
Air Bag?
Never place a rear facing Infant in front of
an air bag unless the airbag has been
switched off or has a weight sensor.
Forward facing children should be moved
as far back away from the air bag as
possible.
Aftermarket Products
Aftermarket products that did not come
with the child safety should not be used.
They are used with the CSS or attached to
the seatbelt to hold the CSS in place.
These items are not regulated or tested by
NHTSA, CSS or vehicle manufacturers.
None of the products are certified for use.
Aftermarket Products continued:
Use of these products on the restraint are
not recommended unless made CSS
manufacture for use on that restraint.
VA state law states that it is illegal for any
aftermarket product to be attached to the
seatbelt of a car unless certified by
NHTSA.
Questions ?
Contact for more information:
Bryant Nowlin
Lynchburg Police Department
434-841-9663 / 434-455-6047
[email protected]
Kimberly Maddox
Safe Kids of Central VA.
434-841-5122
[email protected]
Other Contacts
Tobey Anne Allen
(Virginia Department of Health)
Child Safety Seat Inspections Coordinator
(804) 864-7747
[email protected]
WWW.safetyseatva.org
Other Contacts
Margaret Younger
Lynchburg Sheriff’s Office
(434) 847-1301
Jennifer Collins
Lynchburg Fire Department
Lynchburg Police Department
455-6041/455-6047