Car Seat Safety

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in children in the United States. So many of these deaths could be prevented with consistent and proper use of an age- and size-appropriate car seat, booster seat or seat belt.

It’s important that parents ensure their child’s car seat is safe and secure. Many well-intentioned parents do not realize their child’s car seat is installed incorrectly.

To help ensure child are traveling safely, health department staff are available to coordinate car seat inspections at community events.

 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that over 90% of child safety seats in the United States are install INCORRECTLY. 

When child safety seats are used correctly they are

* 71% effective in reducing infant fatalities

* 67% effective in reducing the need for hospitalization

* 54% effective in reducing fatalities for children ages 1-4

Kentucky Child Seat Laws

· Any child under 40 inches tall must be in a child and/or infant seat.

· Any child, who is under 8 years of age and is between 40 and 57 inches tall, must be in a booster seat.

· All children over 8 years of age or over 57 inches tall must be secured in a seat belt.

 

Child Seat Safety Tips 

· Choose the right child safety seat or safety belt for your child's size and age.

· Take the time to be sure your child is riding safely.  Read and follow your vehicle owner's manual and child safety seat instructions. Check your vehicle and child safety seat instructions to see how to lock your child safety seat in place and if you need any special installation hardware.

· Get a tight fit - an installed child safety seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or toward the front of the vehicle.

· Make sure your child is snugly secured by the safety belt, according to manufacturer's instructions.

· Use the correct child safety seat belt path or LATCH system.

· Never put a rear facing child in a front seat with an active frontal air bag.

· A back seat is generally the safest place for kids of any age.

· If you must use the front seat, contact your vehicle manufacturer for information about airbag on/off switches.

· Replace any child safety seat that has been involved in a crash.

 

 

Send in the child safety seat registration card to be notified in case it is recalled.  If you have questions about recalls, call the manufacturer, visit NHTSA or call 888-DASH-2-DOT.

Franklin County Health Department Clinic has Certified Safety Seat Technicians to serve you. Please call at 502-564-7647 to make an appointment.

Certified Safety Seat Technicians
Amber Mathers				Susan Nesselrode

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