Find the “Right Seat”
National Child Passenger Safety Week is just around the corner, including National Seat Check Saturday (the week of Sept. 20, 2020). The John Price family understands just how critical child passenger safety is; we are doing our part to add to the conversation as we work together to end the suffering of children due to motor vehicle accidents. Please join us in learning more about this worthwhile campaign as prevention makes an enormous difference.
**Statistics
**The United States Department of Transportation reports “every 32 seconds in 2018, one child under the age of 13 in a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash.” An alarming 37 percent of children who died from car accidents in 2017 were unrestrained. Adding to the tragedy is the reality that with proper car seat, booster and seat belt use, we could reduce the number of injuries and deaths significantly.
Finding the “Right Seat”
The right car seat saves lives! NHTSA designed a helpful tool for parents and caregivers at NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat. In a matter of moments, it generates customized car seat results based on the child’s age, height and weight. Let’s delve deeper into the types of car seats and safety recommendations.
Car Seat Types and Safety Recommendations
There are four main types of car seats, which are further divided below. The NHTSA urges parents and caregivers to learn the types, follow NHTSA recommendations based on your child’s age and size, and then use their Car Seat Finder.
- Rear-Facing (infant, convertible, all-in-one)
- Forward-Facing (convertible, combination, all-in-one)
- Booster Seat (with a high back, backless, combination, all-in-one)
- Seat Belt
Life-Saving Reminders:
- Children under the age of one belong in a rear-facing seat
- Rear-facing is safest; NHTSA cautions caregivers to “keep your child rear-facing as long as possible”
- Children should be in booster seats longer than many perceive as necessary: “Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.”
- In a proper seat belt fit, “the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.” Additionally, note the shoulder belt, which should “lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.”
- Register your car seat with the manufacturer so you don’t miss information on recalls or safety or sign-up for car seat and booster seat recall alerts from the NHTSA
**Car Seat Inspections
**Visit the NHTSA website to search for car seat inspection stations in your area (most are available to help at no charge). For example, a quick search by zip code generated 25 results in one Charleston zip code (29412). We noted fire departments, EMS, city hall and hospitals on the list, to name a few. Be sure to search by your area to find the most convenient location for you.
**National Seat Check Saturday
**Mark your calendars for National Seat Check Saturday, coming up on Sept. 26, 2020. Note there is an option to narrow your NHTSA search to display Child Passenger Safety Week events in your car seat inspection station search.
We’re Here to Help
Contact our personal injury firm if your child has been the victim of an auto accident in South Carolina. We offer a free consultation and 24-hour answering service. We have five convenient locations, with three South Carolina locations being fully staffed with full-time attorneys and experienced support staff, or we can meet you at your home or hospital, with evening and weekend appointments available. Call John Price Law Firm, LLC at (843) 552-6011.