Child Safety Seats and safety belts save lives

Each year, car crashes injure and kill more kids than any disease.

If used properly, child safety seats and safety belts do protect children in a crash and help save lives.

Unfortunately, four out of five car seats are incorrectly installed.

To have your Child
Passenger Safety Seat
checked by our experts,
call 573-651-5815
for an appointment.

It's important to make sure child safety seats are installed properly

Brooke Kirby, Child Passenger Safety Instructor, doublechecks a safetyseat fit.

Infant-only seats are rear-facing seats designed for infants from birth to at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds. The rear-facing position protects the infant's fragile neck and chest.

Convertible seats are designed for children up to 40 pounds. They are installed rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for children between ages 1 and 4 and between 20 and 40 pounds.

Most collisions happen close to home. So no matter how short the ride, make sure everyone in the car is buckled up, including you!

Never put infant in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with a passenger side air bag. The back of a rear facing infant or convertible seat rests too close to the air bag compartment.

When your child weighs 40-80 pounds (usually between ages 4 and 8) use a belt-positioning car booster seat.

When your child is big enough to wear a lap shoulder belt only, make sure the shoulder strap fits snugly low across the child's shoulder and not across the neck or back. NEVER put a shoulder belt under the child's arms or behind the child's back.

So why isn't YOUR child buckled up?

Excuse: "My child is safest in my arms."

Fact: Your child will not be protected in your arms or lap.

Excuse: "Safety belts will trap us if the car catches on fire or falls into the water."

Fact: Only a small number of crashes involve fire or falling into water. Even so, safety belts keep passengers safe and alert enough to escape.

Excuse: "I can grab my child in a crash."

Fact: Probably not. Crashes happen suddenly, allowing less than one-half second to react. Few adults can react that fast.

Excuse: "We might be saved if we're thrown clear of the car in a crash."

Fact: Your chances of being killed are 25 times greater if you are thrown from the car. You're more likely to go through an open door or the glass.