Child safety seats are an effective device for protecting infants and children from injury in car crashes. But they cannot protect if they are not installed correctly. To be correctly installed, a child safety seat must:
- Fit your child’s size and weight
- Fit your vehicle
- Be facing in the right direction
- Not be placed near front or side airbags
- Be tightly and securely anchored to the vehicle seat
- Secure your child snuggly in the seat
- Be used every time your child rides in the vehicle
- Not have any mechanical or structural defects
- Never be reused, once it’s been in an accident
Approximately 80% of safety seats are installed incorrectly, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). With statistics like that, it’s wise to have an expert check your installation before using the seat. Free inspections are available nationwide. You can find an inspection station near you by calling 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visiting this website: http://seatcheck.org