CPS week

[papooses]

It's the week of Valentine's Day, right? I'm creating a mass e/mailing about car seat safety for my parenting group {with links/articles/videos I've found here, etc.} ... I was wondering if anyone knew of a concise-ish online thing about WHAT NOT TO DO WITH CAR SEATS

[CPSDarren]

Child Passenger Safety Week 2005 (February 13-19) is just around the corner, and we look forward to working with you to highlight or inspire new safety programming in your communities. Our focus this year is “Getting back to basics�: Reaching parents effectively to encourage them to use the correct restraint for all vehicle occupants, especially child occupants, every time they are in a vehicle. We still lose far too many children because they are completely unrestrained!

I turned these sites up on a quick Google search. Maybe they will give you some ideas to start-

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welco..._mistakes.html

http://www.parents.com/articles/health/5198.jsp

http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/dontdothis/

[papooses]

Originally posted by CPSDarren
dontdothis

That's the one! Thanks

[papooses]

Is there a lap-only belt crash video?

One mom I know of uses a 1980-something extended van with lap-only belts to drive around kids in the community ... I'm hoping I can convince her to get at least one Ez-On Vest to keep handy!

BTW, I thought I'd put this in the Coffee Break Forum ~ sorry!

[CPSDarren]

It's not a video, but this brochure may help:

http://www.chop.edu/traumalink/downl..._cpsreport.pdf

[papooses]

Thanks again!

Since I started this thread here, I figured I'd keep it going here....

I have these links http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...icosipriori.mpg & http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_...axicosirodi.mpg but they're not working now {they did the other day} ~ can someone provide me with video links of FF & booster carsh tests, pretty please?

I'd like the parents to see how RF, FF, boosters & lap belts differ in protecting child passengers

So far I think it's coming along nicely, but I may present a draft version here to see if you techs can offer me more advice {the local techs I contacted weren't interested in our "little" 62 member group consisting of parents with infants, toddlers & big kids *SIGH*} But, I did persuade a local car dealer to coordinate an event & they're going to try to get the technicians to set up shop in time for the new law to be enforced in March!!!

[MyLittleTyke]

Try this site (it's in German, but click on the invidual seats, and it will take you to another site that has crash-test). LMK if you have any questions:


http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...002/gesamt.htm

[papooses]

I can click on the words to see the video, but I need a URL ... when I run my mouse over the link without out clicking, I can only see part of the URL

[papooses]

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/...er_020304.html

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/.../e_movies.html

But, I'd still like to also be able to compare a crash with a booster against crashes without boosters {& against 5-point harness seats}....

[UlrikeDG]

Originally posted by papooses
I can click on the words to see the video, but I need a URL ... when I run my mouse over the link without out clicking, I can only see part of the URL

Here it is. www. oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/gesamt.htm (I added a space after the first . so delete that to make it work properly.

You can also try right clicking on the link in "MyLittleTyke's" original post, then select "copy" so that you can paste it into a document.

[MelllieMa]

or (unless you have a mac) you can right click it and then select properties and it will showyou the entire address.

[papooses]

OK! I could get to the site & watch the videos, but had no URL to put in my emailing ~ didn't know about the right-click & properties thing before.... Thanks so much

[papooses]

Car accidents are the #1 killer of kids
4 out of 5 seats are improperly used
Parents make an average of 3 mistakes per seat
Only 1 of 5 kids are in boosters that should be
These deaths are often preventable

In light of NY's most recent legislation upgrade, I urge you to read the following information carefully & share it with child caregiver you know!
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/seat-vt.htm
http://www.highwaysafety.org/safety_.../restrain2.htm
The new law basically states that all children under 7 years of age must be in the backseat; those under 4 must be in a harnesses style seat & those between 4-7 must be in boosters.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html

TIPS FOR BUYING A SEAT
~ Determine which kind of seat you need
http://www.buckleupamerica.org/booster/index.php
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm
~ Test different seats out in your vehicle to find the best fit {Babies-R-Us welcomes this practice}
~ Test your child in the seats to find the most comfortable
~ Have it checked by a technician: it's free!
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/
~ Read the vehicle & seat manuals thoroughly ¡K more than once
~ Register your seat!

USED SEATS
Generally, it is advised that you never use a handed-down seat, especially if you don't know its history & do not have the owner¡'s manual!
~ The danger with used seats is you might not realize that it has expired {6 years from DOM} or suffered a crash, etc.
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/sesa-chk.htm

CRASH + INSURANCE
It is usually advised that seats which have been in a crash be replaced immediately, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revised their recommendation: seats in minor crashes may be re-used.
~ Most insurance companies will reimburse you for the cost of the seat if you request them to!
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...raintReUse.htm

TIPS FOR USING CAR SEATS
~ What not to do with car seats!
http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/dontdothis/
Keep your kid happy in the seat: Cloth books, soft puppets, kids music, "I spy" games, etc.
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/635.pdf
~ Bulky coats should be removed before buckling your child because they interfere with the safety of the belt straps & can actually cause young children to be ejected: Wear layers, use hats & hot-packs, give young kids warm blankets to snuggle, warm up the car in advance

REAR FACING
It is recommended that all kids sit RF for as long as possible & certain other countries {Sweden, Italy, etc.} require kids to sit RF up to about 4 years old ... there has never been a single recorded case of leg/foot injury from extended RF, but there have been many cases of neck/spine injuries from FF too soon!
~ Here's why RF is so important for babies less than 12 months AND {not or} 20 pounds!
http://www.britax.fi/quicktime/TWside240.AVI

FORWARD FACING
Remember that toddlers less than one year of age AND less than 20 pounds {again, not either or} must be RF, but FF 5-point harness seats are inherently quite safe when used properly.
~ Some seats even harness kids beyond a mere 40 pounds! *See ALTERNATIVES
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s.../roemerduo.mpg

SHIELDS
Not recommended by child passenger safety professionals!
~ They have been discontinued, although some stores may sell old stock
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/fivepointshield.aspx
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/shieldbooster.aspx

BOOSTERS
They're for big kids, not toddlers...!
~ Car belts are made for people taller than 4'9"
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_s...xicosirodi.mpg
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/...er_020304.html
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/BoosterPlayer.htm
The 5-Step Test
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered no to any of these questions you're kid needs a booster.

LAP-ONLY BELTS
A big no-no for any passenger!
~ Car manufacturers have recently made 3-point lap/shoulder belts standard for all passengers
http://www.cpsafety.com/images/lapbeltshoulderbelt.jpg

*ALTERNATIVES
~ For kids over 40 pounds & for vehicles with lap-only belts
http://www.saferidenews.com/html/Safetynews.html
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...it04/index.htm
~ For toddlers traveling in taxis
http://www.carseatdata.org/TNG.html
~ Infant seats can often be used without the base.

BUSES
http://www.saferidenews.com/pdfs/new...s_Update03.pdf

CAR BUYING
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/BASCKids2004/pages/TOC.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle...gs/ratings.htm
http://www.suvsafety.info/ {compares wagons, vans, SUVs}
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bycla...AclassNF.shtml {because pollution hurts kids, too}

AFTER-MARKET PRODUCTS
Items not included with the seat or installed by the vehicle manufacturer have not been crash tested & are likely to decrease the effectiveness of the seat or become a projectile in a crash!
~ NHTSA offers contact information for acceptable add-on products....
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...On04/index.htm

PROJECTILES
Everyday items become dangerous during a crash, causing unnecessary life-threatening injuries that are easily preventable.
~ Keep only soft toys in the car
~ Store pens, phones, etc. in the glove box
~ Store bags in the trunk or under the seat
~ Secure pets with appropriate vehicle restraint systems
http://ruffrider.com/

OTHER LINKS
http://www.saferidenews.com/html/websites.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IthacaAP/links click "Safety"
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...r2001/csrhtml/
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/.../e_movies.html
http://www.cubrc.org/centir/programs...tr10-3-02s.WMV

ADVOCACY
Maybe you're wondering why I'm so "gung ho" on this issue. The simple answer is that I'm a concerned citizen & a mom who worries what kind of peer pressure my child will be under when she starts school {"I'm the only one who's mom makes them use a booster!"} But, more than that, I've grown up in the Prosthetics profession & I've seen the life-long results of kids who are improperly buckled. Life throws so many unexpected things at us; our children face so many experiences which we have little to no control over ... I like to try my best to control the things I can when I can! Some parent activists keep the local police station number programmed into their phone to report illegal misuse of child seats, but I also keep a stash of flyers around for random anonymous distribution.
~ Here are some more links you can use to print materials for sharing with others!
http://www.buckleupamerica.org/boost...eFinal1-28.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.com/CPS/booster_sea...e/outside.html
http://www.buckleupamerica.org/partn...PSpostcard.pdf
http://www.car--toons.com/category.php?id=25 {car decals}

It prints out as a two-sided single page