Back-to-school seatbelt and car seat safety: Ensure your child's safety
As the school year kicks off, it's essential that parents ensure their children are as safe as possible when traveling to and from school. One of the most important aspects of vehicle safety is making sure that children are properly restrained in their car seats or seatbelts. A correctly installed and properly fitted seatbelt or car seat can significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
The Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reminds families about the importance of seatbelt and car seat safety. Here's what parents need to know:
Proper Car Seat and Seatbelt Fit
Whether your child is in a car seat, booster seat, or using a regular seatbelt, proper fit is crucial for their safety:
● Rear-Facing Car Seats: Infants and toddlers should remain in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, at least until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
● Forward-Facing Car Seats: Once children outgrow rear-facing seats, they should be placed in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer.
● Booster Seats: Once children outgrow forward-facing seats with a harness, they should use a booster seat until the vehicle’s seatbelt fits properly (usually around age 10 or 12).
● Seatbelt Safety: When your child is ready to transition to a regular seatbelt, the belt should fit snugly across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt should lie across the chest, not the neck.
Car Seat and Seatbelt Fit Checks by a Certified Technician
Ensuring that your child’s car seat or seatbelt is correctly installed and adjusted can be tricky. That’s why it’s so important to have a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) check the fit. A CPST can:
● Verify that your car seat is properly installed and secure.
● Check that the harness or seatbelt fits your child properly.
● Offer advice on transitioning between car seats or booster seats when necessary.
The Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers seatbelt and car seat fit checks, provided by certified CPSTs, to ensure that children are properly restrained every time they travel.
Schedule Your Seatbelt and Car Seat Check Today
Parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment for a no-cost car seat or seatbelt check to ensure that their children are properly restrained in their vehicle. To schedule a free fit check with a certified technician, contact Danae Hicks, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for Ellis County, at:
Contact:
Danae Hicks, Family and Community Health Agent
Phone: 972-825-5175
Email: danae.hicks@ag.tamu.edu
Appointments are available by request and ensuring that your child's seat is properly fitted is an essential step toward keeping them safe this school year.
For more information on car seat safety, please visit Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at ellis.agrilife.org.
