toddler killed in car crash today.

[Mommypooh]

http://10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/07/16/child_killed.html?sid=102

They are currently looking at the car seat to see if it was defective or installed incorrectly. I hope they make a big deal out of this. I would like to see a big story done on car seats and the importance of them as well as correct use. :(

[mommy2env]

Oh Dear God, that poor baby. :(

[Shaunam]

yeah I saw that. :( Just the fact that all the others were ok tell me she wasn't in the seat right, or it didn't perform right. Usually the kids in seats do better than everyone else.

We were just in the ER monday night and I saw some people come in. One was a woman they were wheeling in in a wheelchair. And one was a little boy about 3, still in his car seat. It took me a second to realize why they were carrying him in in his seat...because they were being extra cautious in case he had injuries they couldn't see. Anyway, the mom looked like she was in some pain. Like she just got a little banged up. The little boy was laughing and talking and waving his arms around...obviously fine. Oh but his car seat...you guys would have fainted. Old century maybe? Supposed to be an ohs, but that part was missing, so it was just a 3 point, with the straps horrible twisted. He did appear under the weight limit and his shoulders were just below the top slots.

Point is, even in an ancient car seat with twisted straps, this kid looked like he was doing better than his mom. To be *thrown* from the car, that has to be serious misuse or serious malfunction.

[Mommypooh]

It breaks my heart to hear this stuff.

[Shaunam]

Holy crap...I just realized you're one of Kathy's girls aren't you? :p

[scatterbunny]

:( So incredibly sad. I was already upset about the local (to me) crash that killed a 5yo girl today, and now this. :crying:

[SusanMae]

It would be OBVIOUS on the scene if the straps had ripped out of the back of the seat. And if that had happened...first thing I would check is age.

Susan

[Mommypooh]

Holy crap...I just realized you're one of Kathy's girls aren't you? :p

Yes I am. Wow small world.

[mimieliza]

So terribly sad. When a baby is thrown from the car, there's no doubt that either the seat failed or it was misused. :(

ETA: looking at the pictures, the damage to the van isn't so bad. This baby should still be alive, if only they had been restrained correctly. Grrr... so upsetting.

[Shaunam]

Yes I am. Wow small world.


Magnus and his birthdate tipped me off. I think he was the last baby before DD. I vivdly remember having a discussion with her while we were in the NICU about baby names and she told me about Magnus. :D

[Shaunam]

So terribly sad. When a baby is thrown from the car, there's no doubt that either the seat failed or it was misused. :(

ETA: looking at the pictures, the damage to the van isn't so bad. This baby should still be alive, if only they had been restrained correctly. Grrr... so upsetting.

I hate to be so negative, but I'm inclined to believe it was misuse rather than seat malfunction. Car seat usage is just so bad around here. I'm not blaming the parents. Something needs to be done in this area to get people more educated. I told everyone I was up for volunteering at checks, but nobody has called me. They do event checks like twice a year in this county. It's pathetic. They need to be having them every week and teaming up with hospitals for classes, ect.

[Ahzryn]

They aren't any better over here :( Ours are once a month, but pretty much all we get are pregnant moms and infant seat installs. After that, I swear they think they are done!

[Mama!]

2 in one day.:crying:

[Mommy2Marcus]

WOW this just breaks my heart! For her to be thrown from the vehichle makes me believe that it was misuse as well. So sad!

As for misuse & better educating people. I feel that there should just also be better laws. However I know that that will not fix all the problems. It will not fix people that do not use their seats right, nor will it fix people not tightening the straps enough or not putting the chest clip in the right place. So while there should be a way to educate people, there does not seem to be.

I also see terrible misuse all the time here & in Bama. I see kids barely bigger than Marcus all the time in booster seats as well as in nothing at all & riding in the front seat! I want to scream at these people. As has been said many times though, we can not save them all!