Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death and disability among children. Children who are not properly buckled up may be seriously hurt not only in crashes, but also from sudden stops. To keep children safe, everybody needs a safety belt or safety seat on every car trip. Current Minnesota law states:
•Children cannot use a seat belt alone until they are eight years old, or until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.
•Safety seats must be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
•Child must be secured (buckled) in the safety seat.
•Seat must be secured to the vehicle.
•Infants (under 20 pounds and one year of age) must be in a rear-facing safety seat.
•Law applies to all motor vehicles originally built with factory-installed seat belts.
•Law applies to all seating positions.
•Driver is responsible.
•Suspected non-use is a valid basis to stop a motor vehicle.
Here are some tips to remember when using a safety seat:
•It is recommended to keep a child in a booster seat based on their height, rather than their age. This may require parents to keep kids in booster seats past the age of eight.
•Never use a seat that has been involved in a crash.
•Most seats are only good for six years from the year they were manufactured. Check your owner’s manual to see how long it is safe to use your child restraint.
•Register all your child safety seats with the manufacturer so that you will receive notification in the event of a recall.
•Children should stay in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old, or have reached the rear-facing weight limit.
•When using a child safety seat, the harness straps should be tight enough that you are not able to pinch any material on the straps.
•When properly installed, your child safety seat should move less than one inch side to side.
•Read the owner’s manuals for instructions on how to properly install your child safety seat.
For additional car seat information, visit www.carseatsmadesimple.org or www.dps.state.mn.us/ots.
According to the Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Program, seven out of ten child safety seats are not used correctly.
Would you like some help with your child’s or grandchild’s car seat? Would you like someone to check the installation or help to ensure you are transporting your child in the safest way possible? Come to our FREE Car seat clinic on Saturday, September 20th, 2014. The clinic will be held at Eagan Fire Station #2 located at 1001 Station Trail in Eagan! Car seat technicians will be there to check the installation of your seat and answer any questions you may have. The clinic is FREE but requires an appointment. Please call 952-891-7529 to schedule an appointment!
We hope to see you there!