Motor Vehicle Crashes Still Major Cause of Childhood Death
February 9 through 15 is National Child Passenger Safety Week
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of injury-related death among children from birth through age 14. During National Child Passenger Safety Week, SAFE KIDS of DeKalb urges all parents, childcare providers and other caregivers to make sure that they are following these guidelines for transporting children:
Infants under age one and less than 20 pounds:
Should be securely buckled in a rear-facing car seat in the vehicle's back seat.
Should be in a car seat that does not move more than one inch from side to side.
Should be restrained by snug harness straps that only one finger can fit under and with the harness retainer clip at armpit level.
Toddlers over age one and between 20 and 40 pounds:
Should ride in a forward-facing car seat in the vehicle's back seat.
Should be securely fastened in a car seat that does not move more
than one inch from side to side.
Should be restrained by snug harness straps that only one finger can fit under and with the harness retainer clip at armpit level.
Young children under age eight and over 40 pounds:
Should always ride in the vehicle's back seat.
Should ride in a booster seat (for children between 40 and 80 pounds and shorter than 4'9").
Should be in a seat belt that fits over the hips (not the tummy) and shoulder belts that fit over the shoulders (not the neck).
Should never have the shoulder belts placed behind their back.
Children between ages eight and 12:
Should always ride in the back seat.
Should always use a seat belt that fits comfortably over the hips and shoulder belts that fit over the shoulders.
For more information on transporting children safely, call Janet Weisman, SAFE KIDS of DeKalb coordinator, DeKalb County Board of
Health, at (404) 294-3700.
You can also visit the following web sites:
National SAFE KIDS Campaign, www.safekids.org (click on
Safety Tips," then "Car"),
Buckle Up America, www.buckleup.org and
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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