FWIT this came via email from my state coordinator.
"Livingston, Mike"
<mlivingston@safekids.org>
cc <FieldTeam@safekids.org>,
"SKBU staff department" <skbu2@safekids.org>,
"Communications Team" <Communicationsteam@safekids.org>
"Field Department"
11/16/06
Subject: statement on YouTube CPS video
Dear State Coordinators: Please forward to your coalitions and chapters.
Talking points for YouTube CPS video
An amateur video called "Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat," was
posted to YouTube on Nov. 2 and has reached nearly a million viewers so
far. The mother reports in this very moving story that her 3-year-old son
Kyle was killed while riding in his booster seat when the safety belt came
unlatched in a rollover crash. Kyle's family urges parents and caregivers
to use a forward-facing car seat with a higher weight harness (the video
mentions the Britax Regent) with LATCH and they discourage use of safety
belts with child restraints. Keep in mind, however, the weight limit for
lower anchors and tethers in the LATCH system is 48 pounds. Any child
restraint system for a child who weighs more than 48 pounds must be secured
with a seatbelt. If you or your technicians get questions from the public
in response to this video, please remind them of these limits and remember
that safety belts are tested to rigorous standards to make sure they can
secure much heavier adults.
We have no information about the safety belt in this family's car or the
way it was used at the time of the incident. We do know that safety belt
failure is extremely rare. We also know that Kyle's sister, who was seated
next to Kyle and was secured in an identical booster seat using the safety
belt, survived the crash with no serious injuries. Kyle was over 40 pounds
and was using a booster seat because he had outgrown the weight limit on
his forward-facing car seat.
We contacted Steve Wallen, a spokesperson for SafeGuard, the child
restraints division of IMMI. This is the only U.S. company that makes both
safety belts and car seats. Steve says: "We do not know the actual vehicle
or belt system but in general it would be extremely rare for a safety belt
to release in a crash. It does make a case for higher weight limits for
lower anchors and tethers, and parents and advocates can lobby vehicle
manufacturers to increase capacity. My biggest fear is that parents will be
afraid of and stop using seat belts. Seat belts have a 40-year track record
with great success and must be used for the higher weight child."
Bottom line: Anyone using any child restraint system needs to read and
follow the manufacturer's instructions, as well as any applicable
guidelines and warnings in the vehicle owner's manual. A child who weighs
more than 48 pounds is safest in an appropriate child restraint system
secured with the safety belt or as directed by the vehicle and CR
manufacturer. Refer parents to www.usa.safekids.org/skbu, or to your own
inspection station or CPS technicians, for more information.
"Livingston, Mike"
<mlivingston@safekids.org>
cc <FieldTeam@safekids.org>,
"SKBU staff department" <skbu2@safekids.org>,
"Communications Team" <Communicationsteam@safekids.org>
"Field Department"
11/16/06
Subject: statement on YouTube CPS video
Dear State Coordinators: Please forward to your coalitions and chapters.
Talking points for YouTube CPS video
An amateur video called "Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat," was
posted to YouTube on Nov. 2 and has reached nearly a million viewers so
far. The mother reports in this very moving story that her 3-year-old son
Kyle was killed while riding in his booster seat when the safety belt came
unlatched in a rollover crash. Kyle's family urges parents and caregivers
to use a forward-facing car seat with a higher weight harness (the video
mentions the Britax Regent) with LATCH and they discourage use of safety
belts with child restraints. Keep in mind, however, the weight limit for
lower anchors and tethers in the LATCH system is 48 pounds. Any child
restraint system for a child who weighs more than 48 pounds must be secured
with a seatbelt. If you or your technicians get questions from the public
in response to this video, please remind them of these limits and remember
that safety belts are tested to rigorous standards to make sure they can
secure much heavier adults.
We have no information about the safety belt in this family's car or the
way it was used at the time of the incident. We do know that safety belt
failure is extremely rare. We also know that Kyle's sister, who was seated
next to Kyle and was secured in an identical booster seat using the safety
belt, survived the crash with no serious injuries. Kyle was over 40 pounds
and was using a booster seat because he had outgrown the weight limit on
his forward-facing car seat.
We contacted Steve Wallen, a spokesperson for SafeGuard, the child
restraints division of IMMI. This is the only U.S. company that makes both
safety belts and car seats. Steve says: "We do not know the actual vehicle
or belt system but in general it would be extremely rare for a safety belt
to release in a crash. It does make a case for higher weight limits for
lower anchors and tethers, and parents and advocates can lobby vehicle
manufacturers to increase capacity. My biggest fear is that parents will be
afraid of and stop using seat belts. Seat belts have a 40-year track record
with great success and must be used for the higher weight child."
Bottom line: Anyone using any child restraint system needs to read and
follow the manufacturer's instructions, as well as any applicable
guidelines and warnings in the vehicle owner's manual. A child who weighs
more than 48 pounds is safest in an appropriate child restraint system
secured with the safety belt or as directed by the vehicle and CR
manufacturer. Refer parents to www.usa.safekids.org/skbu, or to your own
inspection station or CPS technicians, for more information.
