Published: April 10, 2008 11:19 am      

United Way, Success By 6 team up to make kids safe

Ada — More than 70 percent of children who die in a car crash are not in a safety approved car seat. Each year, more than 20 children under the age of six die as a result of motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 1,100 are injured in such accidents. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, properly installed car seats can reduce the risk of death in infants by 71 percent and in toddlers by 54 percent.

To address this critical issue, Ada Area Success By 6, in partnership with Smart Start Oklahoma, will team up with the Ada High School Leadership Class, Pontotoc County Health Department, Ada High Leadership Class, Ada Nissan, Ada Regional United Way and other community partners to host a car seat safety check on Saturday, April 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Ada Nissan located at 420 Lonnie Abbott in Ada.

Certified technicians will assist parents, grandparents or anyone transporting a child with the installation of a car seat. During the first car seat safety check held in February 2008, technicians found over three-fourths of the car seats checked were improperly installed; and half were deemed outdated or unsafe. The car seats that were unsafe and could no longer be used were replaced with a free car seat. The unsafe car seats were destroyed.

Statistics show that four out of every five car seats are installed incorrectly, making it vital to read and follow instructions correctly. Below are tips to ensure that your child’s car seat is safe at all times:

—Installation of Child Safety Seat: A child’s car seat should be fitted tightly against the seat of the motor vehicle and should not be allowed to move more than one inch from side to side when pulled along the seat belt path with moderate force. It is impossible to eliminate all movement at the top of the seat, especially a rear-facing seat.

—Recline Angle: Until a child is able to hold his head up, recline should be at a vertical 45 degrees angle. If the child’s head falls forward, the airway can be blocked. If more recline is needed, add a rolled-up towel or blanket under the front of the car seat.

—Placement of Car Safety Seat: Infants have weak necks and large heads as compared to the rest of their body. The majority of fatality crashes are front-end/head-on. In such a crash the child’s head is thrown toward the point of impact. As a result, forward-facing infants are at far greater risk of fatality/serious injury than are rear-facing infants. Infants should face backward in a car seat if they are under 12 months of age, and/or under 20 lbs.

—Locking Clips: A locking clip is the silver “I” shaped buckle that is found in a child’s car seat. Using a locking clip can make a critical difference in a serious crash. They allow for less slack in the seat belt, keeping the child safety seat in position during the pre-crash phase. Instructions come with every car seat.

—Air Bag Safety: Air bags have saved thousands of adult lives, but they are not safe for children. Statistics show that more than 100 children have been killed nationwide by air bags. Of these 100 deaths, the majority of children were either unrestrained or improperly restrained.

—Harness Straps and Retainer Clips: Harness straps should be snug enough so that only one finger can be placed between the strap and the child’s collarbone. The retainer clip (the plastic piece that holds the shoulder straps together) goes at armpit level. Children have been ejected in crashes in which the clip was placed too low.

—Use of Recalled or Unsafe Car Seats: Manufacturers will replace or repair seats for free that have been recalled, but they have to be able to locate the owner. Fill out the owner’s registration card when you buy a new child seat. A current recall list can be found on the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or www.carseat.org.

—Be Consistent and Use the Safety Seat at All Times: Most crashes happen close to home at speeds less than 45 mph. Unfortunately, some families only buckle up on long trips or on the highway. At least 20 percent of Oklahoma children are still not buckled up at all - don’t let yours be one of them.