Extension
Connection
Extension
Connection
Using a Car Seat Safely
By Janet Hackert, Nutrition Specialist
Child safety seats and booster seats can feel like a hassle. But when we realize that car crashes kill more children 1-14 years old than any other cause, it makes it worth it to learn about using these tools safely and then to take the time to use them right and protect the children we care about.
As of August 28, 2006, Missouri’s Child Restraint Law states the following:
v Child Safety Seat – children under 4 years old or weighing less than 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat.
v Booster seat with lap and shoulder belt – Children 4-7 years old who weigh at least 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 pounds or 4’9” tall.
v Lap and shoulder safety belts – Children 8 years old and older or weighing at least 80 pounds or at least 4’9” tall are required to be secured by a safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child.
There are many reasons children need the protection of proper restraint in a vehicle. The bones of young children are soft and their ligaments are looser than adults’. They need the assistance of the appropriate car seat, booster seat, and/or lap and shoulder belts to be held securely in the case of an accident. These tools also protect the child from being hit by, or from hitting, something or someone during a crash. Even during a sudden stop, these devices secure children in place, absorbing the force of such an abrupt movement and spreading that impact out safely.
Installing the car safety seat or booster seat is key to its functioning well to protect the child. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a series of videos showing how to install and use various types of devices. Go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and click on the Child Safety Seats quick link on the left-hand side of the page.
A child’s young life is too precious to leave to chance. Use a car safety seat or booster seat as recommended, even on short trips. No one ever knows when an accident will happen!
For more information on safely installing a car safety seat or booster seat and how to properly restrain a child of any age, contact local law enforcement officials or the local Health Department. They will be able to guide you to a certified child passenger safety technician.
Other resources include the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division brochure or call them toll free at (888)327-4236.
(Written September 25, 2009)
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Extension Connection Barb Ubben, Web Manager harrisonco@missouri.edu Last revised: 05/25/04 |