The majority of accident-related deaths among children between the ages of three and 14 occur in cars. Motor vehicle crashes in which children are unrestrained put them at greater risk of injury. As such, keeping your child safe while riding in a vehicle is one of your most significant duties as a parent.
There are child restraint laws and safety guidelines to follow when on the road with your kids. Children are safer with proper use of car safety seats. For infants and toddlers under four, car seats reduce death risk by 71% and 54%, respectively. Airbag injuries to young children can be fatal, so kids should always use the correct child car seats at the back.
Safety Tips for Children When Driving
Many injuries and fatalities resulting from accidental injuries can be prevented with proper precautions. A child can be injured if they are not properly restrained in a vehicle or are unaware of certain dangers associated with motor vehicles. You can ensure your child’s safety while driving by following these tips.
Make sure to activate the child safety locks. Children may unintentionally trigger a power window, causing harm to their hands, arms, fingers, and even heads. Therefore, it’s always best for the driver to have complete control over windows and doors.
Use child restraints and car seats properly. A properly fitted child restraint, car seat, or booster is essential for keeping your children safe in any vehicle. Use the seat of the right size for your child’s age, height, and weight, and secure the seat correctly to the vehicle’s seat.
You should consult the manufacturer’s manual for your specific car model and check the installation regularly. Additionally, avoid purchasing second-hand car seats because it’s hard to tell if a used or second-hand car seat has been damaged.
Be sure to check the back seat. We can all slip into autopilot and complete small tasks without even realizing it, and parents are no different. To avoid forgetting someone inside and to prevent heatstroke, it is important to check the car’s back seat before exiting the vehicle.
It is common for parents to leave important items with their children in the back seat before locking up and leaving the car, such as a purse, wallet, or cellphone. No matter how small the chance is, it’s still important to take precautions so this won’t happen to you or your children.
Proper Use of Car Seats
Most people believe that their child safety seat is installed properly.
As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demonstrates, this is not true. In fact, 73% of child safety seats are installed and used incorrectly, which may lead to serious injury or death.
Always Follow Child Safety Seat Laws
Keeping your baby safe in the car begins with correctly fitting child restraints. Car seat laws vary depending on where you live and where you travel. Ensure you are familiar with the regulations in your home state and those in the states you intend to visit.
For example, according to Colorado law, children must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they turn one and weigh at least 20 pounds.
Make Sure the Seat fits Properly
Whenever it comes to fitting a car seat, every model is different. Therefore, choosing the right car seat for your child’s weight and height is important. According to research, two-thirds of car seats are fitted incorrectly, and one out of 10 is installed dangerously, so you should ensure your child’s car seat is properly installed. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions and keep an eye on the installation.
When Driving, Ensure your Child Remains in His or Her Car Seat
Do not remove the child from the seat while the car moves, not even for a minute. While it can be heartbreaking to hear your baby cry, keeping them properly restrained is vital to their safety. Pull over in a safe area if you need to remove your baby’s car seat to comfort or feed them.
Motor Vehicle Safety Restraints for Kids
Children are physically smaller than average adults. Having smaller bodies makes it difficult for children’s safety belts to fit properly in motor vehicles.
Children between four and eight years of age are especially at risk for improperly using safety belts. It is recommended that children do not begin wearing the shoulder and lap belts until they are at least 57 inches tall and are between the ages of eight and 12. Until then, a booster seat should be used.
Despite this, children who have outgrown their child safety seat often use adult seat belts without a booster seat. Your child needs a booster seat if the seat belt crosses at the neck rather than the chest. A booster is also necessary if the lap belt crosses at the stomach rather than at the hips or upper thighs.
When Airbags Are a Danger to Children
Airbags can be lifesaving in conjunction with a vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt system. However, airbags can put children at risk of injury.
A child safety seat that is rear-facing for infants or a seat that is unrestrained for children may be too close to an inflating airbag. When an airbag inflates at 200 mph, it can harm passengers who are too close to it. Further, the child’s size makes the airbag more likely to strike his or her head or neck, resulting in serious or fatal injuries.
Always place your child away from airbags in a vehicle to ensure their safety. The rear seat is the most secure for small children. When your child is of age and sits in the front seat, move it as far back as possible. When a car does not have a back seat, rear-facing child safety seats will be safe only if the airbag is disabled (an option in some vehicles) or if no airbag is present.
Never Leave Your Kids Unattended
Ultimately, as a parent, you are responsible for ensuring the well-being of your kids. Running a quick errand may seem tempting, but leaving children unattended in a vehicle, even for a minute, can be dangerous. If children are left unattended in the vehicle, they may be able to start it or put it into neutral. Furthermore, children can quickly become fatally ill if they are exposed to high temperatures or heat buildup inside a vehicle.