Week-long Focus on Child Car Seat Installations and Safety Measures
In a recent study conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide, in collaboration with researchers from The Ohio State University and funded by a grant from Chevrolet, it has been revealed that while progress has been made in the last 10 years, an alarming number of children are still not properly buckled up in motor vehicles. The study, titled Booster Seat Use in the USA: Breakthroughs and Barriers, found that four out of five parents move their child out of a booster seat before the child is big enough.
The study calls for a multi-pronged effort to educate families and adopt public policies to keep kids safe. Dr. Julie Mansfield, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized the need for understanding family decision-making and effective ways to foster growth in car seat safety. Suzanne Johansson, from Chevrolet, highlighted the importance of education and awareness in increasing booster seat usage.
According to the current guidelines for booster seat usage, children should use booster seats until they are at least 8 years old or reach 4 feet 9 inches (57 inches) in height. This ensures that the vehicle's seat belt fits properly across the child's chest and lap for maximum safety. The guidelines also consider weight considerations, recommending that booster seats are typically used after outgrowing forward-facing car seats, generally between ages 5 to 8 depending on size.
However, the study found that many caregivers, including those who drive carpools, do not always follow safety rules, letting children ride without the restraints they should use. Thirty percent of caregivers who drive carpools admitted they do not always follow safety rules, and three in four parents are unaware that kids need to ride in boosters until they're at least 4-foot-9-inches tall.
The report also found that using booster seats reduces the risk of serious injury by 45 percent compared to using seat belts alone. It's important for car seats to be used according to manufacturer instructions, and the Safety Belt Fit Test helps determine if a child is ready to use a seatbelt without a booster seat.
To address these issues, Safe Kids Worldwide and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association are partnering during Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21, 2024) to remind families to use the correct car seat for their child's height, weight, age, and developmental needs. Hands-on assistance is available from trained and certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians across the country, often provided for free at check-up events or inspection stations.
Virtual checks are also available for educational resources. Product experts can answer questions through manufacturer customer service resources, and many manufacturer websites include how-to videos. The bottom-line message of the report: Buckle up every ride, every time, in the right seat.
While seat belts are safer than no restraint at all, children who should be in a booster seat but only use a seat belt are at risk of severe abdominal, head, and spinal injuries. It's crucial to ensure that every child is properly buckled up to prevent these unnecessary risks.
Motor vehicle crashes are the second-leading cause of death for children ages 4 to 10. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and Safe Kids Worldwide are working together to change this statistic and promote child passenger safety.
References:
- Safe Kids Worldwide. (n.d.). Booster Seat Use in the USA: Breakthroughs and Barriers. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/
- Safe Kids Worldwide. (n.d.). Booster Seat Use. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/
- The Ohio State University. (n.d.). Study finds four out of five parents move children out of booster seats too early. Retrieved from https://news.osu.edu/
- Chevrolet. (n.d.). Chevrolet and Safe Kids Worldwide Launch New Child Passenger Safety Research. Retrieved from https://media.chevrolet.com/
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Child Safety Seats. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/
- To promote the health-and-wellness and safety of children, organizations like Safe Kids Worldwide and Chevrolet are working together with education-and-self-development programs to educate families on proper car seat usage, particularly booster seat safety.
- Online-education resources, such as manufacturer websites and customer service channels, offer how-to videos and advice from product experts, enabling parents to learn about using booster seats effectively and limiting the risk of serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents.
