Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children in the United States! This horrible statistic is made worse when we discover that 75% of child fatalities and 50% of child injuries could be eliminated with the consistent and correct use of child safety seats and safety belts! Don't neglect your responsibility as a caregiver to provide the children in your care with the protection that law and common sense dictates. When you drive with children in the car, children must be in safety seats and belts and in them correctly!
Placing children in safety seats is not the end of the problem. Statistics indicate that up to 50% of children who are placed in seats may be placed incorrectly. This can lead to injury or death! Become more aware and informed. Safety seats are safety equipment! Read the manufacturer's directions fully and completely! Buy the correct child seat according to the child's weight, height, and developmental ability.
Check safety seat and vehicle safety belt system compatibility. If buying second hand, ensure that the seat has not been in an accident, that it meets federal standards, has all necessary belts, buckles, and clips and that manufacturer directions are available.
We need to work together to protect and educate all children. Always take care to buckle up the children you care for. Then be sure to buckle up yourself!
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. (1993). Car seats are a must for children. In M. Lopes (Ed.) CareGiver News (May, p. 4). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension.