Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. In 2016, an average of two kids under the age of 13 were killed from auto crashes per day. According to safekids.org, “child safety seats decrease the risk of fatal injury by 71% among infants, 5% among toddlers and 45% among children ages 4 – 8.” Child Passenger Safety Week 2018 is September 23rd-29th. We want to review the rules of the road when it comes to you and your little ones.
Child Passenger Safety (CPS)
We recommend parents check out the National CPS Certification website. There you can find a certified CPS technician that will inspect if your child is in the proper car seat. You can also become a CPS technician and find out the best car seat for your child! You can find the website here http://cert.safekids.org/
Every state has different laws regarding CPS. Connecticut Safe Kids created a helpful, visual brochure that shows which car seat is best fitted for your child’s age and weight. To access it, please click the link here http://www.ctsafekids.org/files/6515/0533/0049/Safe_Kids_Booster_Brochure_REV_sept17.pdf
Here are some other facts and tips to keep in mind of regarding CPS:
- Children under 13 should always ride of the car.
- Choose soft toys to come along for the car ride. Bring toys that will not hurt your child if a car crash happens.
- 59% of the time, a parent incorrectly installs the car seat. Please read and follow the installing instructions of the car seat manual.
We understand that auto accidents are not always preventable, but keeping your child safe if it ever occurs is. Please take in consideration of these informative tips and websites so we can keep your little ones the safest they can be in the car.
