Tony "The Car Guy" Morice here. Sorry I have been gone for so long. Will not let that happen again. So last time I "blogged" I was talking about Winter Car Care. I am not sure about you but I am very glad that we are not still talking about that. As I look out my window from my office - the sun is shining, the birds chirping, and it is 71 degrees out with not one cloud in the sky. This is my type of weather!
As we enter this warm season - people start planing trips and vacations. Kids are almost out of school and the travel bug starts creeping up on us. I would like to review and remind you of the keys of child passenger safety. Our little ones and not so little ones are our most precious cargo so let's make sure we get them to the vacation spot safe (or in one piece like my mom would say).
Let's first talk about the reality.
- Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death amoung children in the U.S.
- From 2000 through 2009, more than 3,000 children ages 4 through 7 were killed while riding in motor vehicles. Nearly 80 percent who died were unrestrained or in an adult seat belt.
- 8 out of 10 child safety seats are not properly installed, putting children at increased risk of serious injury or even death. To be protected, children must be properly restrained in seats appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
- Children exposed to deployed air bags are twice more likely to suffer significant injury that children not exposed.
- Once children outgrow their traditional safety seats (usually at about age 4), they need to ride in booster seats to age 8. Without a booster seat, the lap belt can ride over the child's stomach and the shoulder belt can cross a child's neck. As this position is uncomfortable, children frequently remove the shoulder portion of the adult seat belt, increasing their risk of head injury.
Effective actions to save the lives of youngsters:
- Children under age 13 should sit in the rear seat, if one is available; this reduces the risk of injury by 33 percent!
- Use a booster seat and seat belt rather than a seat belt alone for a 4-8 year old; this will reduce a child's risk of injury by 59 percent.
- Make sure you use the right restraint for your child and install it correctly.
- Infants, until they are at least 20 lbs and at least 1 year old, should be in a rear-facing child safety seat.
- Toddlers, until they are about age 4, should be in a child safety sear facing forward.
- Children, until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall or age 8, should be in booster seats.
- All children should use seat belts after they outgrow booster seats.
- Be sure all children in your vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height, and weight.
- Have your child safety seat inspected at a fitting station by a trained technician (see http://www.seatcheck.org/ for locations)
- Talk to or write to your state and local lawmakers and urge them to support the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendations for State laws.
Visit the following Web Sites:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/
Safe Kids World Wide: http://www.safekids.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org/family/cps.htm
Seat Check: http://www.seatcheck.org/
West Loop Auto Body (http://www.westloopauto.com/) is a strong advocate of children's safety and if you have any questions or concerns about safety seats, seat belts, vehicular safety - please do not hesitate to call us at 866-738-1975 and we will be more than happy to help you with any of those questions that you might have.
As you plan your vacations and weekend trips - please make safety your #1 priority!
Until we collide again!
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body
