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Child car seats were invented as early as the 1930s. They were primarily used so your child could see out the window. These child seats were homemade out of materials like gunny sacks that were strapped to the seat. It wasn’t until the 1960s that safety features were engineered into child seats.

On this episode of All About The Car, we are joined by Lieutenant Jon Altman from the Fire & Rescue Department in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Jon is one of 5 technicians at the department who inspect child passenger safety seats and provide education to keep kids safe when traveling. His department was approached in winter of 2013 by a local hospital and asked to provide these services to the community. By February of 2014, Jon and his colleagues had completed training in Wausau, WI and were certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as technicians for the Child Passenger Safety Program.

 

 

Did you know? Over 51% of child car seats are being misused.

This is due to improper installation, not wearing the harness properly, or general misuse. Often, car seats are not installed tight enough or using the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for Children) system properly. Misuse is usually caused by the shoulder strap not being in the correct place or again, being too loose. Puffy winter jackets can be a seasonal cause of straps that are too loose. You should also never hang mirrors or toys from your car seat. These objects can become dangerous projectiles in the event of a crash.

 

How can I keep my child safe?

There are regulations to keep your child safe in the vehicle. Keep them in a rear facing car seat until they are at least 1 year old and 20lbs. Seat them in a forward-facing unit until they are at least 4 years old and 40 lbs. After that, the law requires your child to use a booster seat until the age of 8, height of 4’9”, or weight of 80lbs.

 

But is that enough?

You can do more to keep your family safe. The Child Passenger Safety Program suggests a set of best practices that could make all the difference. For example, you can keep your child in their rear facing passenger seat until they grow out of it. The seat manual will list the maximum weight allowed. It’s okay if your child needs to bend their legs due to height. The same goes for a forward-facing car seat. Let your child grow out of the parameters set by the seat manufacturer before switching to a booster seat. When it comes to transitioning out of a booster seat, Jon and his team can review whether your child is ready to graduate from the seat using a 5 step process. Jon notes that these guidelines are not typically met until a child is 12 to 13 years old.

1. Child must sit all the way back in seat.

2. Legs must bend over seat edge.

3. When buckled, seatbelt must go over collarbone and mid chest.

4. When buckled, seatbelt must go over hips.

5. Child must be able to maintain this position throughout the entire ride.

 

What else should I know?

The best seat is one that fits your car and the child who will be using it. All seats are certified for safety standards and crash tested. Some may have more creature comforts such as extra head padding or cupholders but are equally as safe as models that lack these features.

The most vulnerable child should be placed in the middle seating position. This means your youngest child or children with health conditions should be placed in this position. This offers them more protection from side crumple zones on your vehicle.

Rear facing child seats should never be placed in the front seat with an airbag on. There have been instances where the airbag has pushed the child against the back of the passenger seat. If you must place a rear facing seat in the front of a vehicle, turn off the passenger airbag. Most modern cars have a Passenger Airbag Cut Off Switch – check your owner’s manual for details.

Remove extra items from inside your vehicle. Just like toys attached to your child’s safety seat, as any unsecured items in your vehicle can become dangerous projectiles.

If you have any questions or would like your car seat inspected, contact the Marshfield Fire & Rescue Department or your local certified child passenger safety technician. Find a technician at Safe Kids Worldwide.