As Valentine’s Day approaches, most couples are contemplating chocolate, roses, and romance, but neglecting one very important item: their child’s safety seat.
February 11th–17th is National Child Passenger Safety Week. Designed to coincide with Valentine’s Day—a day spent cherishing those we love—it is also designed to bring attention to some very startling facts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHSTA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Although a child safety seat is the best way to protect against serious injuries and fatalities, almost 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly, according to NHSTA.
It’s no wonder, given the many styles, models, and brands on the market. Wading through the baby-seat jargon can be as confusing as installing the darn thing. What’s more, NHTSA recently found that the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system, designed to make safety seat installations easier, was actually making installation more confusing.
So, how do parents do it right?
Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization whose mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injury, has a few rules to follow:
“If your infant car seat is less than six years old, if it’s never been in a crash, if it’s reclining at about a 45-degree angle in the car, if it’s secured tightly in the back seat and the harness straps are adjusted correctly for your baby, then you’re giving your baby the safest ride possible,” writes Lorrie Walker, technical advisor to Safe Kids Worldwide, in an advisory fact sheet.
Whoa, that’s a lot to remember. Luckily, you don’t have to. Take your safety seat to a local police station, fire station or inspection center (which can be found by searching www.seatcheck.org) and they will install it for you.
That’s exactly what Karen Pak, soon to be mom, did.
“The cop didn’t hesitate to give me some lessons. My baby seat was a hand me down and was six years old, needing to be replaced. He suggested I get a new one,” Pak says.
