According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle traffic accidents are one of the top two causes of accidental death in children under 16 years old.1 Proper car seat installation is a crucial step in preventing injuries to children during motor vehicle accidents.
As part of our participation in Pennsylvania’s EMS for Children Program, Medic 94 has Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff who can perform a car seat check to help assure your children travel safely in the car. Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide, these individuals completed a 4 day training course on the proper sizing, positioning, and vehicle installation techniques for different types and manufacturers of car seat. During a car seat check, our technicians will teach you how to properly install your car seat, provide guidance on transitioning between positions and types of seats, and even provide a certified final installation. Simply click the “REQUEST A CAR SEAT CHECK” button to make an appointment!
Car Seat Basics
Choosing the Right Car Seat
There are many factors that go into choosing the right seat for your child. The height, weight, and development of the child, the vehicle(s) that the seat is expected to be used with, the price of the seat, and the size and weight of the seat are all factors that could effect your decision. Overall, the safest type of car seat is the one that properly fits your child’s height and weight, can be properly secured in your vehicle, and will be used properly every time your child gets in the car. Be sure to consider each of these factors when choosing a seat for your child.
There are four main types of car seat. Each type is designed to absorb and distribute the impact of a motor vehicle accident and protect the rider. However, it must be sized appropriately and installed in the correct position. The four main groups are:
- Rear-Facing Only
This type of seat is designed for infants and small toddlers. This seat MUST be installed facing the back of the vehicle and then replaced when the child outgrows the seat’s rear-facing weight limit. - Convertible Seat
Convertible car seats accommodate a wider range of ages. For small children, the seats should be installed facing the back of the vehicle, but can then be turned to a forward facing position as the child grows. - Booster Seat
Booster seats are designed to put a child in the correct position to utilize the lap and shoulder belt of a vehicle’s built in safety restraint system. Some seats, referred to as combination seats, use the seat’s integrated harness to function as a forward facing car seat, but can be changed to a booster seat that uses the vehicle’s safety restraint system when the child is big enough. - All-In-One
All-in-one seats are designed to grow with your child. They can be installed rear facing when the child is young, then turned to a forward facing position when the child is big enough. The seat can eventually be converted again into a booster seat that utilizes the vehicle’s safety restraint system.
Seats that can be installed in multiple positions to secure the child through multiple stages of development tend to be more expensive. However, they may save you money in the long run as they have longer expiration dates and eliminate the need to purchase multiple types of seat. Expiration dates are model specific, but the life of a car seat is typically between 5 and 10 years.
Installing a Car Seat
There are many different ways to install a car seat. Most types and brands of car seat can be installed using either your vehicle’s safety restraint system, or an integrated latch system. The installation method must be approved by both your car seat and vehicle manufacturer. Check your seat’s user guide and your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find out which methods are approved and appropriate for your child’s age and size.
When installing your seat and sizing the harness straps for your child, there are a few general rules to keep in mind:
- If properly secured to your vehicle seat, a car seat should not move more than 1 inch when moved forward/backward or side to side
- Harness straps should not be twisted and should lay flat against the child’s shoulders and should be tight enough that fabric will not raise between your fingers when pinched
- Harness chest clips should sit at armpit level
When to Make Changes
Children should remain rear facing for as long as possible. An overview of the National Highway and Transportation Safety Authority’s recommended car seat positioning is shown to the right. Pennsylvania law requires that children ride secured in a rear-facing car seat until at least 2 years of age. Rear facing seats should never be placed in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Once your child reaches the maximum height or weight for the rear facing position of your seat, they should be turned to a forward facing position. Depending on the type of car seat your child was rear facing in, changing their position may require the purchase of a new seat. Check your car seat’s user guide for approved installation positions and the height and weight limits of each.
NHTSA Recommended Car Seat Positioning
Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats
Once your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit for their current car seat and/or position, it is time to change. Keep in mind that Pennsylvania law requires all children under the age of 8 years old to be secured in either a car seat or booster seat when riding in a vehicle. However, best practice is for children to remain in a booster seat until they can sit all the way back on the vehicle seat and plant their feet flat on the vehicle floor. This usually occurs when they reach a height of about 4 feet 9 inches (between 8 and 12 years old). Because of the front airbag, children under the age of 13 years old are safest riding in the back seat.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
visit PAKidsTravelSafe.org, NHSTA.gov/carseat, or contact us at carseat@sccems.org