Child Passenger Safety
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, motor vehicle injuries are the greatest public health problem facing children today.
Child Passenger Safety is an important educational program since Colorado State Patrol troopers in northeast Colorado estimate that about 90 percent of all child safety seats are installed wrong!
The three things that parents often overlook include:
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Car seats are too loose - the car seat should not move more than one inch in the seat belt path.
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Children are not strapped in tight enough - shoulder harness straps on the seat should come over the child's shoulders and be snug.
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Retaining clasp is used incorrectly - the retaining clasp that slides along the shoulder harness should be at the child's armpit level, not around their waist.
NCHD has Certified Safety Seat Inspectors.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's safety seat,
please contact Michelle Pemberton 970-522-3741 ext. 1239 michellep@nchd.org
Additional resources for a car seat inspection include local Colorado State Patrol offices or other local law enforcement agencies. Local hospitals, fire departments or family resource centers may also provide car seat resources.
For more information about car seat safety, please visit this Colorado Department of Transportation webpage.
The Dangers of Secondhand Car Seats
Purchasing a car seat is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child and it's one accessory where you don't want to cut corners to find a bargain.
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Some of the problems with purchasing secondhand car seats include:
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Not knowing where the seat has been or what condition it is in
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The seat may be defective or too old
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The seat may have missing parts
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The seat may have been recalled
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Many people don't know that car seats actually come with an expiration date.
While booster seats have a life span of up to 10 years, most car seats expire after six years.
If you are tempted to use a secondhand seat, please see the Colorado Department of Transportation Used Car Seat Checklist first!
Look Before You Lock
On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. These deaths are preventable.
Facts to consider:
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On an 80 degree day in just 20 minutes, the temperature inside the car can reach 109 degrees. Children’s bodies warm 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.
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Leaving the windows open “a crack” doesn’t help.
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A child dies when his/her body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
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Even when an outside temperature of 60 degrees, the temperature inside a car can reach 110 degrees.
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In 10 minutes, a car's temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
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Potential consequences of leaving a child in a hot car include severe injury or death, being arrested and jailed, and/or a lifetime of regret.
Tips to avoid child heatstroke:
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Always check the back seats of your vehicle before you lock it and walk away.
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Agree to have your child’s care provider or teacher call you immediately if your child does not show up for care or school.
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Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat.
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If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, always check to make sure your child has arrived safely.
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If you put something you need in the back seat – like a cell phone, briefcase or purse – you’ll be reminded there’s a child with you.
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Always lock your car and make sure your kids do not have access to your keys. A car is not a safe place to play. Children can change gears or release brakes. They can hurt themselves and others.
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If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number – every minute counts.
If you would like to know more information, please contact
Michelle Pemberton
(970) 522-3741 x1239
michellep@nchd.org
Or consider one of the following resources