Every year there are 9,000 children who die due to injuries. This is equal to 150 school busloads of children. Injuries are often preventable and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) focuses on injury prevention and seat belt safety to keep kids healthy.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and disability among children in the United States. In fatal crashes involving children, one in three was an unrestrained passenger. The misuse or non-use of safety restraints is the leading factor in preventable motor vehicle deaths and injuries. All children in a vehicle need to be properly restrained and all children younger than age 13 should ride in the back seat.
New AAP recommendations say that Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight and height allowed by their seats (at least 2 years of age or more). Infant and toddler heads are large and that can put increased strain on the neck during an accident. Rear-facing car seats are the safest option, giving the best support to an infant’s head, neck, and spine.
Eventually the child will need to be moved into a properly fitted booster seat. There should be no rush to transition between steps. Booster seats are appropriate for children who weigh at least 40 pounds and many can accommodate children up to 65 pounds or more.
Most children cannot fit properly into a vehicle seat belt until they are 13 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Seat belts are designed for adults, not children. Children using seat belts too soon are four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury than those restrained in child safety seats or booster seats. Children using incorrect restraints instead of a booster seat are 3.5 times as likely to sustain an abdominal injury.
Utah Statistics:
In 2012, booster seat use among children ages 4-7 in motor vehicle crashes was 56% in Utah. Older children were less likely to be properly restrained than younger children. While more than 90% of 1-year-old children were in an appropriate child safety seat in a crash, only 76% of 4-year-olds, 47% of 6-year-olds, and 14% of 8-year-olds were in an age appropriate restraint.
Utah law states that children must ride in booster seats until age 8. If drivers, or any passengers in a car are not properly restrained, a fine will be applied.
Resources: To find your local car seat safety technician who can help install and fit your child’s seat, please go to: https://highwaysafety.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/10/Is-Your-Child-Safe-Oct-18.pdf
References:
Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards—Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition. http://cfoc.nrckids.org
https://highwaysafety.utah.gov/seat-belts-and-car-seats/car-seat-safety/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats
https://clickit.utah.gov/
