Information supplied
by Waukesha Memorial Hospital
According
to the National Safety Council, 80 percent of child
safety seats are not properly installed. Furthermore,
about 40 percent of kids still ride unrestrained.
And while virtually none of us would consider taking
a newborn home from the hospital without an infant car
seat, we mistakenly assume that once they hit 40 pounds,
kids are ready for seat belts. "Many parents think that
once a child turns four, they can get rid of the car
seat," says Catherine Giampetroni, RN, MSN, director
of Waukesha Memorial's Emergency Department. But, Giampetroni
warns, seat belts do not adequately protect children
ages 4 to 8 (about 40 to 80 pounds) from injury in a
crash.
Up
to 8 years old, most children are too short for seat
belts. Lap belts can ride up in young children. In the
event of an accident, that can mean spinal or abdominal
injuries. The shoulder portion of the belt drapes across
the neck. Tucking it under the arm or back can cause
serious injury in a crash.
Belt-positioning
booster seats are strongly urged for this age group.
The seats -- which are more effective than ever at preventing
injury -- work by elevating the child so that the lap
and shoulder belts fit comfortably and works effectively.
Today's lighter, easier-to-use
models are better tolerated by kids than are older models, notes Jane Howard,
coordinator of Southeast Wisconsin SAFE KIDS Coalition, lead by Children's Hospital
of Wisconsin and based at the Health Education Center of Wisconsin. Parents find
that if they avoid calling boosters "car seats" and point out that boosters help
big kids use adult safety belts, children are happy to ride in them.
Information supplied by
Waukesha Memorial Hospital
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