How To Keep Kids Safe In The Car

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How To Keep Kids Safe In The Car
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Being in a motor vehicle accident can be life
changing even more so when you have a small
child in the car.While you cant predict when
or where an accident may occur, you can take
precautions to prevent your children from getting
hurt and it starts by understanding and
implementing proper car seat guidelines.
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The StatisticsMotor vehicle injuries are the 1
leading cause of injury-related death for
Canadian children. Its estimated that over two
classrooms of children die in cars every yearnot
including the thousands that are injured.The
field of child passenger safety changes rapidly,
which is why parents (myself included) must keep
up to date with changes and developments to car
seat safety.
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Its simple No child, under any circumstance,
should ride in a motor vehicle without a car seat
or booster seat. The stats are eye opening.The
use of car seats reduces the risk for death to
infants less than 1 year by 71 and to toddlers
aged 1-4 by 54.. In children aged 4-8, booster
seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by
45 compared to seat belt use.
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These statistics alone are enough for any parent
to enforce the use of a car seat. However, child
restraint systems are often used incorrectly.In
fact, an estimated 46 of car and booster seats
are installed or used improperly, drastically
reducing their effectiveness this is why I
encourage parents to not only research what type
of car seat to use for their childs height and
weight, but also how to install it properly.
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Online videos and tutorials are a great source of
information. You can also hire a child passenger
safety technician to conduct an inspection.If
youre interested in getting more hands on, the
Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada
offers a unique training course to provide you
with the widest range of information and
knowledge available in Canada on child passenger
safety.
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Know The StagesAs your child grows, the way in
which his/her car seat is used changes too.Be
aware of these changes and remember Its not
about age. Proper car seat use depends more on
the height and weight of your child.
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Booster Seat LegislationWhile booster seats are
mandatory in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon,
unfortunately the Northwest Territories, Nunavut
and Alberta do not have booster seat legislation
in place.Personally I think this needs to
change.
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Child restraint safety should be a priority in
every province and is needed to increase the
level of childrens safety on Canadas roads.If
youre unsure of the laws pertaining to car seats
and booster seats in your province, consult this
chart.
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Important Tips. Never rush to move your child
from one car seat stage to the next. As long as
theyre in the correct height and weight range of
the seat, they are safest.. No more than 1
finger should fit between a car seat harness and
your childs body.. Some child car seats can be
used for more than one stage. Be sure to read
your car seat user guide for details and proper
usage.
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. If youre not sure your car seat is installed
correctly, there may be a car seat clinic in your
area to have it checked.. Items that didnt come
with your childs car seat (trays, comfort
straps, etc.) may not be safe to use. Contact the
car seat manufacturer to ensure they are.. As a
general rule of thumb, children under 12 are
safest in the backseat.
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Always replace a child car seat that was in a
motor vehicle accident. Even if your child wasnt
in the seat at the time of the accident, it may
be damaged.Be aware of your childs car seat
expiry date and replace the seat when necessary.
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Tools ResourcesAs a personal injury lawyer
and a parent to two young children myself, I
cant stress how important car seat guidelines
are.Below is a list of resources Ive
personally consulted throughout the years to keep
my kids safe behind the wheel. I invite you to do
the same
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. Transport Canada. Parachute Canada. The
Canadian Council of Motor Transport
Administrators/The National Occupant Restraint
Program. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
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Has your child been injured in a motor vehicle
accident or by way of a car seat defect? Feel
free to reach out to discuss your options and
next steps. http//derekwilsonlaw.ca