National Child Passenger Safety Technician Month: Keep Your Children Safe in the Car

May is National Child Passenger Safety Technician Month, a time to reflect on proper child passenger safety and the importance of a car seat in protecting your child on the road. Your child is safest when they are strapped into a car seat and have all the precautions in place to keep them protected in case of an emergency. Learning which seat is right for your situation can go a long way in keeping your child safe.

Car Seat and Booster Seat Choices

Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13? This is often attributed to children sitting in the wrong seat in the vehicle, not having a dedicated car seat, or having an improperly installed car seat. It’s important to choose the right seat and use it correctly in order to keep your child as safe as possible. Determining and installing the right seat will ensure your child is protected no matter what situation arises. 

Rear-Facing Car Seats

The first type of car seat are rear-facing seats, which are the best type of seat for younger children around the ages of a few months to 2 years old to use. These have a harness and, during a crash, cradle and move with the child to reduce stress on your children’s neck and spinal cord. These come in three different styles: 

• Infant Car Seats: These are designed for newborns and small babies, making this the most portable option. These are typically only used for the child’s first year before they transition to a larger seat. 

• Convertible Seats: Utilizing a tether and harness like a forward-facing car seat, they have all the protections of a rear-facing seat with the capability of becoming a forward-facing seat if needed. 

• All-in-one Seats: This seat acts as a booster and can transition into a forward-facing position as needed, meaning this can be used at any point in your child’s life and acts as any form of seat your child needs.

Forward-Facing Car Seats

One of the most common types of car seats, forward-facing seats utilize a harness and tether to keep your child firmly secure during transit and in the event of a crash. This harness combination works similar to how normal seatbelts function, but with an added degree of protection and compression. These seats come in three versions: 

• Convertible Seats: These are forward-facing seats that can shift back to rear-facing seats if needed. They’re flexible and easy to carry. 

• Combination Seats: These are transitional seats, meaning these can be used at any point during your child’s growth to act initially as a forward-facing seat that can transition into a booster seat with tethers and harness. 

• All-in-One Seats: This seat can adjust from rear-facing to forward facing and a booster to suit your child’s age. 

Booster Seats

Booster seats are elevated car seats that position a child so the vehicle's lap-and-shoulder belts fit properly over your child’s hips and chest. These come in four different types: 

• High Back Booster Seats: These are designed to boost the child’s height so seat belts fit them properly. It also provides neck and head support, making it ideal for vehicles that don’t have head rests or high seat backs. This seat may ease the transition from a harnessed car seat by having a similar structure and must be used with the standard seat belts to be effective. 

• Backless Booster Seats: This seat provides the booster assistance without the built-in head and neck support. These should only be used in vehicles that have preexisting headrests or high seat backs. 

• Combination Seats: These seats are both forward-facing and a booster seat, but require a seatbelt to be fully effective. They are essentially doubly effective at protecting your child by using the car's built-in seatbelt along with the straps and tethers of a forward-facing seat. 

• All-in-one Seats: This seat can act as forward-facing and backward-facing booster seat to suit any situation or need of your child. 

Improve the Child Safety of Your Car with the Right Car Seat

If your child is under the age of 12, you should always ensure they have a dedicated car seat in the back of the vehicle and that it is secured by a seatbelt. If you’re unsure how to install the seat, consult your vehicle’s owner’s menu. If you are ever in a vehicle accident and need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Eureka Fire Protection District. Our team is ready to assist in any emergency situation.