Garrett County Health Department Highlights Car Seat Safety – Child Passenger Safety Week – September 20-26, 2020

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Every day, millions of parents and caregivers travel with children in their vehicles. While some children are buckled in properly in the correct car seats for their ages and sizes, many are not, if they are buckled up at all. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half (46%) of car seats are misused. To help combat this issue, NHTSA is sponsoring Child Passenger Safety Week from September 20-26, 2020, a campaign dedicated to helping parents and caregivers make sure their children ride as safely as possible — every trip, every time. 

“Every 32 seconds in 2018, a child under 13 was involved in a passenger vehicle crash,” said Maria Friend, Director of Early Care Programs at the Garrett County Health Department. “Using car seats that are age- and size-appropriate is the best way to keep your children safe. Our program continues to provide car seats and assistance during the pandemic on a sliding scale fee based on family size and income. Installs are being conducted virtually at this time.”

“During Child Passenger Safety Week we are promoting several webinars hosted by Maryland Kids In Safety Seats (MD KISS) to educate families and increase the safety of children in vehicles,” Friend said.

MD KISS National Child Passenger Safety Week virtual programming includes:

• Webinar – Top Car Seat Mistakes and How to Fix Them? Tuesday, September 22, 11 a.m.: Learn about the most common errors related to child passenger safety and how to prevent or correct them. Register: https://bit.ly/34f2inR
• Webinar – Questions about Car Seats? Ask the Experts! Wednesday, September 23, 2 p.m.: Am I using the right car seat for my child? When can I turn my child forward facing? Why can’t I get my car seat tight? Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will answer these questions and more in an interactive presentation. Register: https://bit.ly/2CMgoBO
• Webinar – Traveling Safely with Your New Baby. Thursday, September 24, 11 a.m.: Geared towards expectant parents and new caregivers, this presentation will provide a basic overview of how to keep baby safe while traveling in the car. Register: https://bit.ly/3hpF1mZ
• Video Seat Check Saturday – Saturday, September 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Maryland is collaborating with the District of Columbia and Virginia to host a first of its kind Regional Virtual Seat Check Event.  Caregivers will attend one-on-one video appointments with a Child Passenger Safety Technician using Zoom to obtain answers to their car seat questions. Register: https://bit.ly/2QmN5sq

“Car seats matter, and having the right car seat installed and used the right way is critical.” 

Friend said. “As parents and caregivers, we have a long list of things we do for our children to show our love. One of the simplest and most important things on the list should be to make sure our kids are in the right car seat for their age and size.” 

NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular seats. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing-only “infant” car seat, he/she should travel in a rear-facing “convertible” or all-in-one car seat. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing size limits, the child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness (always use the tether). After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat with harness, children should be placed in booster seats until they’re the right size to use seat belts safely. Children under 13 should always sit in the back seat. 

Remember to register your car seat or booster seat with the seat manufacturer so you can be notified in the event of a recall. Parents and caregivers can view more information on car seat safety and locate a certified technician at www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.

For local help with car seat questions, call the Garrett County Health Department’s Early Care Programs at 301-334-7720 or 301-895-3111.