Passenger, Vehicle and Pedestrian Safety

Child Passenger Safety Facts and Tips

Riding in cars can be a fast way to get from one place to another.  That’s why it’s important to make sure kids are safely secured when making quick trips or long car rides. Here are few tips to make sure kids are safely transported in cars:

Car Safety Seat Tips

• Make sure kids use car seats or booster seats that are appropriate for their age, height and weight.
• Keep babies in rear-facing child safety seats for as long as possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping babies rear-facing until they are 2.
• Kids between 20 to 40 lbs. can use forward facing safety seats with a harness. This means safely securing the child in a car seat facing the front of the car.
• Kids up to age 8 must ride in booster seats in the back seat.
• Kids age 8 or older or who are 4’9” or taller can use a seat belt. The lap belt must fit low on their hips with the shoulder belt crossing the middle of their chest.
• Kids who are not 4’9” or taller must use a booster seat.
• Never buy used car seats if you don’t know its full history and never use car seats that have been in a car crash.
• Remember all car seats have expiration dates.  The expiration date can be found on a sticker on the seat.  Typically it’s for six years. If there are any questions contact the seat manufacturer.
• Have your car seat checked by a child passenger safety technician.

Booster seat?  Car seat?  To learn more, click here.

Keep Your Kids Safe Around Driveways

Kids love cars, and when they see a parked car, they don’t even think about getting hurt or seriously injured. That’s why parents have to. Many preventable injuries and deaths occur in driveways or parking lots when drivers are unaware that children are near vehicles.

Tragically, these drivers are often family members or friends of the injured child. But these injuries are easily prevented by following a few simple tips. Click here to learn everything you need to know to keep your kids safe around driveways.

Bus Safety

School buses are the safest mode of motorized transportation for getting children to and from school, but injuries can occur if kids are not careful and aware when getting on and off the bus. Taking the bus for the first time is a big step for a child. Click here to learn more about bus safety.

Pedestrian Safety

Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. Teenagers are now at greatest risk. Teens have a death rate twice that of younger children and account for half of all child pedestrian deaths.

Whether your kids are walking to school, the park or a friend’s house, there are a few simple tips to make sure they get there safely.  Click here for everything you need to know to keep your kids safe while walking.