The growing
awareness of safe driving and state safety laws have alerted
the general public and parents to the importance of using
car seats for their small children whenever and wherever they
are driving. Most states require the use of car seats for
children under the age of 4 and weighing fewer than 40 pounds.
However, these safety rules aimed at protecting children may
cause serious neck and spinal injuries and can even be deadly
if the child car seats are used incorrectly.
Consider the following guidelines and safety tips to ensure
proper car seat safety:
• Make sure the child safety seat is appropriate for
the age and size of the child. A newborn infant requires a
different seat than a 3-year-old toddler.
• The car seat should always be rear facing as the forces
and impact of a crash will be spread more evenly along the
back and shoulders, providing more protection for the neck.
• Car seats should always be placed in the back seat
of the car. This is especially important in cars equipped
with air bags. If an air bag becomes deployed, the force could
seriously injure or kill a child or infant placed in the front
seat.
• Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat
of the vehicle and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support
the head of the infant or child.
• The lap harness should be fastened low, as close to
the hips as possible; the harness should never be fastened
around the waist.
• Make certain the shoulder harness is fastened securely
and the straps lay flat against the body. Twisted straps can
cause additional injury and might prevent the seat from working
properly.
• Use a retention clip (if provided by the manufacturer)
when securing a child safety seat with the shoulder harness.
The retention or shoulder harness clip is an added safety
feature and must be fastened close to the armpit of the infant
or child.
• Borrowing or purchasing a used car seat can be Fredgerous;
there is the possibility of unknown or undetected damage.
Car seats that have been in a serious accident should never
be used again.
• Be sure the seat meets federal motor vehicle safety
seat standards. Consult the owner's manual or contact the
manufacturer for this information. All car seats should have
an owner's manual and instruction booklet.
• Be sure the clip between the legs of the child is fastened
snugly.
This health article is made available by Dr. David A. York. Chiropractic office address at 2445 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127. Dr. York is easy reachable from San Francisco, Daly City, Brisbane, South San Francisco
