Car Seats and Safety Belts: Protecting the Child Passenger

Why are seatbelts, air bags, and other automobile safety restraints so important? Consider this: the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes what happens to an unbelted passenger during a car accident, and it is as disturbing as it is informative:

1. Upon impact, the car comes to a sudden stop (one-tenth of a second after a crash)
2. The collision force slams the unbelted passenger against the car interior, causing injury
3. Body organs then collide with other organs and skeletal structures, causing further injury

As you read that sequence events, you may have envisioned yourself or another adult. Imagine a child and the picture becomes even grimmer.

Children are the most vulnerable victims in car accidents. Because of their small size, the body of a child can be seriously injured in even a minor crash. That is why it is important that when you place a child in a car for a long or even a short trip, you need to take special precautions.

1. Never place a child in the front seat. As the NHTSA points out, the passenger-side airbag places young children at risk. During an accident, a bag opens with enough force to cause them injury.
2. Even in the back seat, children need to be safely restrained -- in a child safety seat, booster seat, or with a lap/shoulder belt.

Car Seats: Toting the Toddlers
The NHTSA says that infants and small children less than 20 pounds should be placed in a securely locked car seat. In addition, the seat should face the rear of the car. This helps prevent neck or spine injuries during sudden stops or accidents. Snug harness straps should be placed at or below an infant’s shoulders. And if you’re transporting infants who have special health or monitoring needs, the NHTSA also recommends that an adult ride in the back seat.

Before installing a seat, carefully read the product instruction manual as well as the owner’s manual for your vehicle for seat belt and child seat installation instructions.

Boosting Bigger Kids
Some children may be too big for a car seat but still too small for seat belts, and these children should ride in booster seats. The NHTSA recommends boosters for children between ages four and eight, at least 35 inches tall, and weighing between 40 and 80 lbs. As with car seats, always read instructions before using a booster seat. This will ensure your child’s comfort as well as safety.

Children should continue to ride in booster seats until they are big enough that their feet touch the floor when their backs are leaning against the seat cushion.

Seat Belts
Eventually your children will graduate to seat belts. It's your responsibility as a parent to set a good example by always using your own belt and by instructing a child how to use theirs. Seat belts help to avoid injuries and can save lives. During a serious accident, an unbelted passenger could be ejected from the automobile.

Conversely, when you and your children wear seat belts, your bodies will stop as the car stops. The belt helps spread the crash over larger parts of your bodies such as your chests, hips and shoulders. If you're the driver, your head, face and chest are also less likely to strike the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard if you're using a safety belt.