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Published on Wednesday, February 4, 2004
in the Tampa Tribune
The National Safe Kids Campaign, which works to prevent injuries to children, estimates that 85 percent of children in safety seats and booster seats are improperly restrained.
Parents often use an inappropriate seat for a child's age and size or do not secure the seat tightly in the vehicle or the child correctly in the seat.
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol and Safe Kids are sponsoring two child safety seat checkpoints at rest areas on both sides of the Sunshine Skyway, said Jean Shoemaker, a Safe Kids coordinator at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, co-sponsor of the event with Chick-fil-A.
Troopers will ensure the seats are properly installed and check whether any models have been recalled, Shoemaker said.
Other safety seat checkpoints exist year-round throughout the Tampa Bay area. Seat checks are available Thursdays by appointment at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa, (813) 231-9497.
From Car Seat To Booster Seat
State law requires that children ride in safety seats until age 3. Children less than 1 year old and weighing less than 20 pounds should ride in the back seat to properly support the back and neck, Trooper Reginald Edwards said.
Carrying a baby in your lap is irresponsible and dangerous, Edwards said. A 10-pound infant will feel as if he weighs 300 pounds under the forces involved in the average traffic crash, he said. ``You just can't hold on to 300 pounds.''
Once children reach 4 years old, they should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they weigh 80 pounds, usually by about 8 years old, Shoemaker said.
``Seat belt systems are made for adults,'' she said. Seat belts should fall snug and flat against the chest, collarbone and upper thighs, but until a child is tall enough to ride with her back against the seat and her knees over the seat's edge, the belts do not fit properly, putting her at risk for spinal and internal injuries.
Replace After Crash
If you are involved in a traffic crash, replace the safety seat or booster seat, experts say. The seat absorbs most of the force from the impact and will develop hairline cracks.
Do not buy safety seats at secondhand stores and yard sales, Edwards said. You have no way of knowing the seat's history.
Shoemaker said people can accept hand-me-down safety seats from relatives, provided they know the seat has never been involved in a crash. No one in Florida should use a safety seat that is more than 5 years old, she said. Heat makes the material expand and contract, increasing the chances it will not function properly.
Parents on a limited income may call the Pinellas County Health Department and register for a class on using a child safety seat to get a seat free.
For information, visit the National Safe Kids Campaign Child Safety Seat Locator at safekids.org/buckleup/index.cfm or Safe Kids's Frequently Asked Questions About Child Safety Seats at safekids.org/content_documents/Public_FAQ-Final.pdf.pdf