| Georgina Nowak helps Brittni Marvidakis correctly install a car seat. |
Carbon/Emery Safe Kids, in conjunction with Castleview Hospital Women’s Services, Southeastern Utah Health Department, and the Emery County Sheriff’s Office, sponsored a Grandparent Safety Day. The checkpoint was set up to help, not only grandparents, but everyone, understand how to safely install child car seats into automobiles. Also available was checking a current car seat for proper installation.
The checkpoint was held at Emery Medical Center on June 23. Representatives from each of the sponsoring entities were on hand to answer questions, check car seats, hand out free gun locks, and help in any way.
“Child safety is our main concern. There are many ways to install a car seat, and several points in that installation could be done incorrectly. Any error in installation can be fatal and that is the reason we’re here, to instruct and inspect installation to ensure utmost safety,” said Georgina Nowak, Carbon/Emery Safe Kids director.
A child should be in a child restrain seat at all times while in a vehicle. Using a car safety seat correctly makes a big difference. Even the safest seat may not protect a child in a crash unless it is used correctly. Infants, preschoolers, toddlers, and young children require different types of restraints.
Infants should be placed in a correctly installed infant-only seat. Seats should be secured to the vehicle by the seat belts or by the LATCH system, and only in a rear seat facing the rear. The child seat should recline at a 45 degree angle, with harness straps/slots at or below shoulder level. Harness straps should fit snugly on the child with the harness clip at armpit level. Never put an infant-only seat in the front seat of an automobile where there is an airbag present.
Preschooler and toddlers, 1-4 years of age and 20-40 pounds, should ride in a convertible seat, facing forward. Seats should be secured to the vehicle by the seat belts or by the LATCH system. Tightly install the child seat in a rear seat, facing forward. Harness straps/slots should be at or above the child’s shoulders. The harness straps should be snug on the child and the harness clip should be at armpit level.
Young children, from 4-8 years old and more than 57 inches tall, should be placed in a high back belt positioning booster. The booster base is used with adult lap and shoulder belts in the rear seats. Shoulder belt should rest snugly across the chest of the child, and on its shoulders. The strap should never be placed under the arm or behind the back. Lap belt should rest low, across the lap/upper thigh area, not across the stomach.
Carbon/Emery Safe Kids keeps the public informed about all types of child safety. For more information, contact them at 435-637-3671. Stay informed about child safety seat recalls; be sure to fill out the registration card that comes with new child seats.