Smells like holiday, right? Well, after you made sure everything is packed and ready to go in your car's trunk and your summer songs sit nicely in the new playlist, it's time to take care of your child's safety during that road trip you've been planning with your family.
What, you thought having children in your car wouldn't require a significant dose of responsibility on your behalf? Think again, because 1 in 3 children ride unrestrained in their parents' cars and only 2 out of 9 are in a correct car seat.
That being said, allow us to offer a few tips to make vacation life easier for you and safer for your children. It goes without saying that these rules stand all the time, not only in summer and during road trips, but also while travelling in the city.
So, here are our tips on what you need to do or avoid doing for keeping child passengers safe:
1. Rely on the so-called 'pinch test' and 'inch test'
In case these two notions are new to you, here's what they're all about. Pinch the car seat strap near the child’s shoulder and if you can pinch a wrinkle in the fabric, then tighten the fabric until it is neat. For the inch test, grab the car seat from the back and bottom and move it from side to side and front to back. If the seat goes more than an inch in either direction, tighten it.
2. Never add such things as towels or layer of clothing between the child and the seat
Piling up sheets of cloth or small pillows in your child's seat won't keep them tidy. We know car seats can get hot, and there's always the possibility of an ice-cream or juice spill, but Extra material could interfere with the seat’s ability to restrain the child in the event of a crash, so no messing around here, please.
3. Install the seat only after the car's cabin has cooled off
If the car's interior is hot due to high summer temperatures, it's best to dissipate the heat using the car's A/C system and by opening the windows, before you install the child seat. Also, make sure plastic or metal buckles are not hot and if everything looks alright, place the seat as usual.
4. Secure loose objects in the car
This is also useful for the safety of an adult riding in a car, not just for children. Unsecured items in the car become projectiles in the event of a crash, and we all know what projectiles can do, right? Don't forget to double check everything, especially if the seat is perfectly fixed. And remember: 75% of car seats in the United States are installed incorrectly.
5. Don't rent a car seat
We realize buying a new car seat for your children may require some financial effort, but think of it as an investment in safety and you'll see its value. With a second-hand car seat, you don't know if the expiration date was due or if the previous owner was involved in a crash. Therefore, the seat might have lost the ability to protect your child, without you knowing it.
Google News