Safety Alert: Are your children properly secured?
July 30th, 2009Dean Foundation Passenger Safety Educator, Sherri Faust, reveals the most common car seat installation errors and what parents can do to remedy them.
Some of the most common installation errors seen are:
1. Incorrect use of seatbelt or LATCH belt
- Loose seatbelt or LATCH belt (it should not move more than one inch side to side)
- Using the wrong belt path on the child restraint
- Not using the tether strap when forward facing
2. Incorrect use of harness
- Harness should be at or below shoulders when rear facing (see picture below)
- Harness should be at or above shoulders when forward facing and in an approved forward facing slot per the manufactures instructions (see pictures below)
- Harness must be snug to child, can not take a fold in the harnessing (see picture below)
- Lap and shoulder MUST be worn low across the hips and cross over the mid chest for children in booster seats and adults.
3. Age/fit inappropriate
- Turning car seat forward facing too soon (children should stay rear facing until 30-35 pounds or 2 years of age)
- Moving a child into a booster seat too soon (children must be 4 years of age AND 40 pounds to use a booster seat)
- Moving a child into an adult lap and shoulder belt too soon
Avoiding these common mistakes can save your child’s life. Be sure to read the manufacturers instruction manual for your vehicle and car seat.
Dean Foundation offers car seat inspections where parents meet with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to take a look at the car seat you have installed in your vehicle. We will ensure it is installed correctly, your child is placed properly in the car seat, that it is not under a recall, and be sure it is not expired.
This is a thorough inspection and can take 20-30 minutes per car seat. You can schedule an inspection by calling 608-827-2327.