It's Child Passenger Safety Week, is Yours Installed Correctly?

This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week.

According to statistics, nearly half of all child seats are installed incorrectly.

Car seats help to keep our children safe. And, if installed correctly, can reduce the risk of death in a vehicle accident by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.

WSP Trooper Johnna Batiste wants to make sure all children travel safely in their car seats.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) recommends to get the RIGHT seat, register it, and seek assistance at a car seat inspection station.

Here are some tips from the National Safety Council:

Read the NSC position statement on child restraints, which addresses child passenger safety among multiple modes of transportation
Take advantage of car seat safety checks held nationwide during National Child Passenger Safety Week
If you're pregnant, schedule a car seat installation with a certified child passenger safety technician before the child is born
Children should ride in the back seat at least through age 12
If your kids complain about wearing seat belts, don't negotiate; don't drive off until they buckle up
Always be consistent and wear your seat belt; driver safety belt use strongly influences whether your child will buckle up
All 50 states require child seats with specific criteria; here is a list of child passenger safety laws by state, but too often, state laws don't go far enough
The life of a car seat ranges from six to 10 years; be sure to identify the expiration date set by the manufacturer of the seat being used
Recalls for child seat manufacturers for the past 10 years can be found here
Air bags can save the lives of older children and adults, but they can be fatal for young children when not seated correctly, particularly in the front seat; never place a rear-facing car seat in a front seat near an air bag
Always read instructions provided by the vehicle and car seat manufacturers for properly securing children in all seating positions.