Child Passenger Safety
Child Passenger Safety Week
Every 33 seconds, a child in the United States is involved in a car crash. That’s a scary statistic. Worse yet, more than a third of kids who died in crashes were completely unrestrained: no car seat, no seat belt, nothing or car seats are not being misused.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 13. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts.
September 23 -29, 2018 is Child Passenger Safety Week to remind parents and caregivers to make sure that they are properly using and installing their child safety seats. The AAP recommends infant and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat.
In the District of Columbia DDOT, MPD, DMV, Safe Kids DC, EMSC and DC FEMS will be hosting Car Seat Inspection/Installations Events around the city.
Monday
September 24, 2018
Children’s Hospital (garage)
111 Michigan Avenue NW
Car Seat Inspections
10:00am – 3:30pm
Tuesday
September 25, 2018
DMV Inspection Station
Car Seat Inspections
6:00am – 2:00pm
Traffic Division
501 New York Avenue NW
Booster Seat Tuesday
8:00am – 8:00pm
Wednesday
September 26, 2018
DMV Inspection Station
Car Seat Inspections
6:00am – 2:00pm
Thursday
September 27, 2018
Trusted Health
3732 Minnesota Avenue NE
CPS Education Session
1:00pm – 3:00pm
DMV Inspection Station
Car Seat Inspections
6:00am – 2:00pm
Friday
September 28, 2018
DMV Inspection Station
Car Seat Inspections
6:00am – 2:00pm
DC FEMS-Engine 26
340 Rhode Island Ave NE
Car Seat Inspections
3:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday
September 29, 2018
JPMA
US Capitol Senate Parking Log
National Seat Check Day
10:00am -1:00pm
DMV Inspection Station
National Seat Check Day
2:00pm – 7:00pm
Rear-facing car seat
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
A rear-facing car seat is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord.
Forward-facing car seat
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear- facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward- facing car seat with a harness in the back seat.
A forward-facing car seat has a harness and tether that limits your child’s forward movement during a crash.
Booster seat
Keep your child in a forward-facing
car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward- facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
A booster seat positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body.
Seat belt
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should
lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
A seat belt should lie across the
upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.