My car seat days are behind me. However both my boys ride in the back seat and we don’t pull out of our parking space till everyone in the car is buckled. But it wasn’t very long ago I can remember standing in the car seat section trying to decide which seat we were going to buy. Which was safest? Which was going to be more comfortable? Which was easiest to install? Car seats can be over whelming, but parents need to know- they are not alone!
During Child Passenger Safety Week (September 17-23, 2017), more than 1000 events are expected in 45 states across the country, where parents can get help with their car seats. The week culminates in “Seat Check Saturday,” where Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will help parents and caregivers make sure their car seats are installed correctly. In most cases, this service is FREE.
Important Car Seat Safety Facts:
- Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old
- Every 33 seconds in 2015 a child under 13 was involved in a car crash in the United States
- 1 in 3 children killed* in car crashes was not in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt at the time of the crash
- Car seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury
- Many parents and caregivers move their children to the next restraint type (car seat, booster seat, seat belt) too soon
*According to 2015 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Please join the NHTSA on September 20th from 3-4pm EST for a Twitter chat using #TheRightSeat to learn more about car seat safety and hear some great tips from other moms, dads, and caregivers!
