Each year, Child Passenger Safety Week is celebrated across the country to remind parents and caregivers of the need to keep children of all ages properly secured in a seat that meets their weight and height requirements.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports road traffic injuries are now the leading worldwide killer of people ages 5-29 years old. Protecting children vulnerable to road injury, including those less than five years of age, is critical in today’s world, the WHO says.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. The CDC says always buckling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts reduce serious and fatal injuries by up to 80 percent.
“Safety is our top priority,” said Jenn Jenich-Laplander, certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) for Aspirus. “Making sure your child is in the appropriate age and size car seat will significantly reduce the risk of fatal injuries.”
Every day across the country, caregivers and parents are driving children to and from school, sporting events and childcare. Whether you’re a new or experienced parent, Jenich-Laplander offers some helpful information to keep top of mind.
- Get help checking your seat. If you have a car seat in your vehicle, visit a CPST in your area to double check that your seat is installed properly. Often, there are car seat check events available during the year. The tech will be able to install the seat correctly, check expiration dates, answer any questions and then have you install the seat so you can use it properly every time.
- Register your car seat. It’s critical all seats are registered with their manufacturer in the event of a safety recall. Every seat comes with a pre-paid postage registration card that’s convenient to drop in the mail. This simple step will help ensure you’re notified if a defect is discovered with your seat.
- The right seat. As children grow it’s important to make sure they are buckled appropriately. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping children rear facing for as long as possible, up to the height or weight limit allowed by the seat.
Classes and resources
Aspirus’ first live, one-hour virtual class will focus on car seat safety for newborns and infants in rear-facing seats. The class will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, and is scheduled once per month after that. Advance registration is required. Additional classes for forward-facing car seats and booster seats will start in October. All classes will be taught by a nationally certified CPST. To register for a free virtual class, visit aspirus.org/events.
For those unable to attend a live, virtual class, additional resources have been added to our website for parents, caregivers and community partners to access any time that works for them. Expert videos from Safe Kids Worldwide and other resources are now available at aspirus.org/safe-kids.
For more car seat information, tune into Jenich-Laplander’s podcast about keeping kids safe on the road.
To have your car seat checked by a CPST near you, call your local Aspirus hospital.