Car Seat Restraint Safety

Children as young as 12 months old can unbuckle their seatbelts according to research conducted at Yale University's School of Medicine. Boys attempt to unhook their seatbelts more often than girls. "Kids only 12 Months Old Can Undo Car Seat Restraints," MSNBC (May 1, 2011).

More than 40 percent of children under the age of three who are able to unbuckle restraints do so while the car is moving. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), if left unrestrained in a 30 mph crash, children may be thrown forward with a force equal to 30 times their own body weight. For a 10-pound infant, this equates to 300 lbs of force and is equivalent to falling from a three-story building.

Commentary

Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children between the ages of four to eight according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride in rear facing car seats until the age of two. Children under the age of two who are rear facing in car seats are 75 percent less likely to die or become injured in car accidents.

Children should ride in booster seats until they are 4' 9" inches tall and between the ages of 8 and 12.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following precautions for car seat safety:

• Select a car seat based on your child's age, height and weight.
• Keep your child in the car seat for as long as your child fits in the seat's height and weight requirements.
• All children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat.

Window Safety

Falls from windows result in an average of about eight deaths every year to children five years or younger according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "CPSC: Parents, Caregivers Should Consider Safety Before Opening Windows," CPSC (Apr. 8, 2011).

An estimated 3,300 children in the same age range are treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments each year. On average, one of every three children, or approximately 34 percent, requires hospitalization after falling from a window.

Commentary

Deaths and injuries most frequently occur when children push themselves against window screens or climb onto furniture located next to open windows. These incidents increase dramatically during the spring and summer months.

In many cases the deaths and injuries are preventable.

The CPSC provides safety tips for parents and caregivers to help prevent open window injuries and deaths:

• Safeguard your children by using window guards or window stops. Install stops so that windows open no more than four inches.
• For windows on the 6^th floor and below, install window guards that adults and older children can open easily in case of a fire.
• Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
• Open windows from the top instead of the bottom whenever possible.
• Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near them.
• Check local regulations. Some jurisdictions require landlords to install window guards.