Educate Yourself on Child Seat Safety and Installation As Part of Child Passenger Safety Week

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average four kids aged 14 and under die in car crashes every day and more than five hundred are injured. The risk, however, is dramatically decreased when a car seat is properly installed.  This week marks NHTSA's annual car seat safety initiative, Child Passenger Safety Week (CPSW), to educate parents about proper car seat safety and installation, and prevent juvenile injuries on the road.

A recent survey by Dorel Juvenile Group USA, a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), and AAA revealed that 56 percent of parents do not know the safest position for a single car seat is the center of the rear seat.  And while an overwhelming majority (92%) said they were very or somewhat sure that their current car seat or booster seat was installed correctly, data collected by NHTSA suggest as many as 75 percent of car seats on the road today are not properly installed.

Most parents know that it’s safer for older children to ride in boosters—in fact 4-5 year olds using booster seats have a 67% reduction in fatality risk vs. other 4-5 year olds riding unrestrained. What some parents may not know is what booster seat laws apply to them, as they vary by state and can be pretty confusing. For example, in some states all children under 8 years old must be restrained in a booster, and other states only require children to 4 years old to use one. Although the AAP recommends that children ride in booster until the age of 12 or 57’, only 13% of children 54-56” do.

Maxi-Cosi has compiled these and other helpful statistics on booster seat safety in the following infographic, as part of Child Passenger Safety Week:

Early next month, the Maxi Cosi RodiFix booster seat—which will feature advanced side impact protection and IsoFix for easy installation—will also be launching. I can't wait to be one of the first to try this new booster seat out with my daughter Savannah, as well as my niece and nephew, who are 6 and 8 years old, and still in booster seat. 

Parents and caregivers confused about car seat safety can consult a number of resources for more information and safety tips. Dorel Juvenile Group suggests parents abide by the following guidelines when purchasing and installing car seats:

• Children are significantly safer rear-facing. Look for a car seat that can be used rear facing for as long as possible.  Some car seats can be used rear facing for a child up to 40 pounds.
• Make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child's weight and height. The harness on your car seat should fit your child snugly and not move up and down or side to side. Also, ensure the car seat is at the appropriate angle for their weight and height.
• Do not buy used or expired car seats. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change.  A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations.
• All car seats should be replaced if they have been involved in an accident. Even a minor accident can compromise the structure of the car seat. Warped plastic and frayed materials make seats less safe to use.
• Consult expert resources with any questions. Make an appointment with your local police or fire department to ensure your car seat is properly installed. Dorel Juvenile Group is also sponsoring a free series of car seat check events during Child Passenger Safety Week. Please check the following website for a car seat check in your area: www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/car-seat-check.

Additional tips and information about car seat safety and installation can be found at www.safety1sttv.com.  For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week, please visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/. "

About Dorel Industries

Dorel Juvenile Group is a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), a world class juvenile products and bicycle company.  Established in 1962, Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting products.  Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bebe Confort in Juvenile, as well as Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, Iron Horse and SUGOI in Recreational/Leisure.  Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment of furniture products, both domestically produced and imported.   Dorel is a US$2 billion company with 4500 employees, facilities in nineteen countries, and sales worldwide.