Saving Lives Inc.

Child Passenger Safety

Child Passenger Safety

The Saving Lives Program is urging parents and caregivers to make sure they properly install their child’s safety seats. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, the proper use of child safety seats has saved 8,959 lives from 1975 to 2008 by the proper use of child restraints. In 2008, among children under age five in passenger vehicles, child restraint use saved an estimated 244 lives.

Child Passenger Safety
Best Practices

· Keep children rear facing until a minimum of one year and 20 pounds, but ideally to two years of age and 40 pounds.

· Once a child outgrows a rear facing seat, turn them forward facing and use a five-point harness. Seats now have five-point harnesses that support a child up to 85 pounds.

· Once child outgrows a seat with a five-point harness they should be in a booster seat until they reach the upper limits of the booster seats

· Children should only use a safety belt when they can sit up straight with their knees bent over the vehicle seat, with the lap portion of the belt over their hips and the shoulder portion of the vehicle safety belts resting on their shoulder / collarbone. The shoulder portion of the vehicle safety belt should never be placed behind someone’s back.

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Child Passenger Safety