Governors Child Seat Program

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• Governors Child Seat Program

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Project 8 Goal

• Keep children safe by using most appropriate seat
  for each childs
• Height
• Weight
• Development
• Partnership between Department of Social Services
  and Department of Public Safety began in 2005

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Project 8 Coordinators

• 1 - Rapid City
• 2 - Pierre
• 3 - Aberdeen
• 4 - Brookings
• 5 Sioux Falls

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Project 8 Partners

• 130 Technicians currently certified in SD
• 46 Cities represented
• 56 Partners
• 10 Instructors
• 2 Instructor Candidates
• Other sponsors include State Farm Insurance and
  March of Dimes

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Project 8 Services Offered

• Presentations
• Car seat inspections
• Distribution to needy families
• Special needs seats

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Project 8 Requirements

• Income eligible families can receive seats
• WIC
• Title 19
• Child Care Assistance
• Food Stamps
• Energy Assistance
• TANF

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NHTSAs Four Steps For Kids
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Correct Use of Child Restraints

• Selection
• Direction
• Location
• Installation
• Always read both the vehicle owners manual and
  the child restraint owners manual!

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Project 8 Types of Seats Available

• Infant only carriers
• Convertible seats
• Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations
• Booster seats
• Special needs seats

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Why rear facing is important!

• Increased crash protection
• Spreads crash forces along the entire head, neck,
  and back
• Protects head, neck, and spinal cord
• CR absorbs forces of the crash

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Infant only carriers

• Typically 5 22 pounds
• Facing rear of vehicle
• Never in the front seat
• Harness slots at or below shoulders
• May or may not come with a base

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Project 8 Types of Seats Available

• Infant only carriers
• Convertible seats
• Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations
• Booster seats
• Special needs seats

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Convertible seats-rear facing

• Can be used rear facing 5 30 pounds
• Never in the front seat
• 2 seat belt paths
• Harness slots at or below shoulders

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Convertible seats-forward facing

• Convertible seats-forward facing
• Can be used forward facing 20 40 pounds
• Harness slots at or above shoulders
• 2 seat belt paths

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Project 8 Types of Seats Available

• Infant only carriers
• Convertible seats
• Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations
• Booster seats
• Special needs seats

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Forward Facing/Booster Seats

• Use after child is at least 20 pounds AND at
  least 1 year old
• 20 40 pounds with harness
• 40 100 pounds as booster seat
• Harness slots at or above shoulders

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Project 8 Types of Seats Available

• Infant only carriers
• Convertible seats
• Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations
• Booster seats
• Special needs seats

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Why use a booster seat?

• Protects children too large for a CR with harness
  but too small for a simple seat belt.
• Increases crash protection from injuries

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Booster seats High Back

• Recommendation 40 100 pounds
• High Back is best when there is no head rest
• Must use lap and shoulder belts

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Booster seats Backless

• Recommendation 40 to 80 or 100 pounds
• Use with head restraint from vehicle
• Must use lap and shoulder belts

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Project 8 Types of Seats Available

• Infant only carriers
• Convertible seats
• Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations
• Booster seats
• Special needs seats

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Special Needs Restraints
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Region 1 92 Misuse in 2007

• Types of misuse include
• Selection of incorrect seat
• Direction seat should face
• Location in the vehicle
• Installation of both the car seat in vehicle and
  the child in car seat

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Installation guidelines

• Something on the seat belt must lock to hold car
  seat securely in place
• Locking latch plate
• Retractor locks either automatically or
  switches to lockable
• Locking clip
• Vehicles manufactured after 1995 were required to
  have ability to lock.

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Locking latch plates
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Retractors

• Automatic locking retractors always lock
• Emergency retractors will only lock if there is
  a sudden stop does not work to install child
  seats!
• Switchable retractors pull seat belt to end and
  it changes to an Automatic locking retractor.

Sample of label on seatbelt for the
switchable retractor.
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Locking clips

• Must be used if nothing else locks on the seat
  belt
• Only correct location is close to the latchplate
• Can be used to prevent tipping of rear facing
  seats

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LATCH

• L Lower
• A Anchors and
• T Tethers for
• CH Children

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LATCH Components
Lower anchors required in 2003 models
Top tethers required in 2001 models
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New car seats are LATCH equipped
Lower anchors
Top tether
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Correct installation of car seat

• Seat belt or LATCH through correct belt path
• Seat belt or LATCH is locked and securely
  fastened
• Child restraint does not move more than 1 inch
  side to side when checked at seat belt path
• Tether is used if possible

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Correct positioning of child

• Harness is in correct slot for rear or forward
  facing
• Harness is snug not able to pinch at shoulder
• Chest clip at armpit level
• No bulky coats under harness

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Common misuses

• Seat belt not in locked mode
• Seat belt not tight
• Wrong belt path
• Harness not snug
• Chest clip too low
• Car seat expired or recalled

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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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Misuse at a glance
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For more information

• Website http//www.state.sd.us/project8/
• Department of Social Services Melissa Fluckey,
  state coordinator