Connor's Mom
New member
I just watched a segment on a local news channel in regards to car seats and boosters and the new Texas child restraint law. I understand that it may be difficult to critique my letter without seeing the segment - it is not available online - but I am just wanting to get comments on the way it is written and the information I stated. Please give me some feedback. Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern,
I just watched your segment regarding car seats and the new child restraint law on KVUE Midday News and it was absuolutely painful to watch!
I am a parent that is passionate about child passenger safety and commend you for running a segment on the new law but it would have been more beneficial if the person asking the questions, Melissa Gale, had been better educated on the subject. Her questions asked of the guests and the statements made by her, I do believe, might only further confuse parents regarding the differences and benefits of high weight harness car seats and boosters. Even the looks on the guest's faces show that they where perplexed by her statements and questions. She seemed to be focused on the size of the boosters and car seats themselves rather than the size of the child that is going in the seat or booster which is the most important issue to be considered when a parent is choosing a seat for their child. Also, she made a comment stating that you also needed to think about your car as well and if you have a head rest in your car you might not need a head rest on your booster seat. I found this statement to be odd especially when the guest speaker was talking about the fact that you can not use a lap belt only with a booster seat at the time. In regards to the same statement regarding head rests, her statement might lead parents to believe that if their car has head rests then choosing a seat with out head and back support, like a backless booster, would be the best choice. But, in reality seats with head and back support off further protection for the child and and most seat manufactures require that the auto that they are installed in to have back and head support as well for proper instillation and safety. And choosing a backless booster might not be the safest choice for parents due to the fact that backless boosters are the choice only for older and larger children that just need the extra lift to make them tall enough for the adult seat belt.
I think that the guests where trying to give the proper information but Ms. Gale and her line of questioning/statements where not allowing them to to do so.
Furthermore, in the videos shown during the segment of the mother placing her child in the seat and the doll in the seat, both the child and the doll where wearing large puffy coats. I think that this also sends and incorrect message to parent beings that it is very unsafe for a child to wear a large coat while restrained in the car as they compromise the safety of the child. Harness straps are meant to fit snugly against the child's chest. Winter coats and snowsuits make car seat safety difficult because they change the way a child fits into the car seat. In a crash the thicker coats, snowsuits or even thick blankets will compress, making the straps too loose and possibly allowing the child to be ejected from the seat.
Once again, I commend KVUE on attempting to make parents aware of child passenger safety and the new law. I just wished that it would have been presented in a way that would have helped parents understand the new law and ways to help keep their children safe. May I suggest that next time your station presents the subject you have your representative speak with a Child Passenger Safety Technician before the segment to suggest a few more appropriate questions. You can find a CPST through Austin's chapter of Safe Kids who are in affiliation with Dell Hospital.
http://www.dellchildrens.net/services_and_programs/safety_and_injury_prevention/safe_kids_austin/
Thank you,
Peggy Willis, Registered Nurse
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern,
I just watched your segment regarding car seats and the new child restraint law on KVUE Midday News and it was absuolutely painful to watch!
I am a parent that is passionate about child passenger safety and commend you for running a segment on the new law but it would have been more beneficial if the person asking the questions, Melissa Gale, had been better educated on the subject. Her questions asked of the guests and the statements made by her, I do believe, might only further confuse parents regarding the differences and benefits of high weight harness car seats and boosters. Even the looks on the guest's faces show that they where perplexed by her statements and questions. She seemed to be focused on the size of the boosters and car seats themselves rather than the size of the child that is going in the seat or booster which is the most important issue to be considered when a parent is choosing a seat for their child. Also, she made a comment stating that you also needed to think about your car as well and if you have a head rest in your car you might not need a head rest on your booster seat. I found this statement to be odd especially when the guest speaker was talking about the fact that you can not use a lap belt only with a booster seat at the time. In regards to the same statement regarding head rests, her statement might lead parents to believe that if their car has head rests then choosing a seat with out head and back support, like a backless booster, would be the best choice. But, in reality seats with head and back support off further protection for the child and and most seat manufactures require that the auto that they are installed in to have back and head support as well for proper instillation and safety. And choosing a backless booster might not be the safest choice for parents due to the fact that backless boosters are the choice only for older and larger children that just need the extra lift to make them tall enough for the adult seat belt.
I think that the guests where trying to give the proper information but Ms. Gale and her line of questioning/statements where not allowing them to to do so.
Furthermore, in the videos shown during the segment of the mother placing her child in the seat and the doll in the seat, both the child and the doll where wearing large puffy coats. I think that this also sends and incorrect message to parent beings that it is very unsafe for a child to wear a large coat while restrained in the car as they compromise the safety of the child. Harness straps are meant to fit snugly against the child's chest. Winter coats and snowsuits make car seat safety difficult because they change the way a child fits into the car seat. In a crash the thicker coats, snowsuits or even thick blankets will compress, making the straps too loose and possibly allowing the child to be ejected from the seat.
Once again, I commend KVUE on attempting to make parents aware of child passenger safety and the new law. I just wished that it would have been presented in a way that would have helped parents understand the new law and ways to help keep their children safe. May I suggest that next time your station presents the subject you have your representative speak with a Child Passenger Safety Technician before the segment to suggest a few more appropriate questions. You can find a CPST through Austin's chapter of Safe Kids who are in affiliation with Dell Hospital.
http://www.dellchildrens.net/services_and_programs/safety_and_injury_prevention/safe_kids_austin/
Thank you,
Peggy Willis, Registered Nurse