Added on June 17, 2014  The News Wheel   , , ,
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GM Address Child Vehicle Safety Tips All Parents Should Know

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In a recent Fast Lane blog post, GM covered five core child vehicle safety tips that all parents need to know. The automaker chose the summer to cover these child vehicle safety tips because “statistics show more children are born in the summer than any other time of the year,” though they purposefully failed to mention that the reason is because everyone is getting lucky in the winter when there is nothing else to do. (We’re obviously not tasteful enough to make the same omission.) We have, however, decided to help spread the word, so be sure to follow these child vehicle safety tips every time you take a trip with the little ones.

 

Five Child Vehicle Safety Tips

 

  1. There are five simple child vehicle safety tips that all parents should know.

    There are five simple child vehicle safety tips that all parents should know.

    Use the child safety restraint meant for your child’s age—and, oh yeah, install it properly. You’d think this was a no brainer, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70 percent of car seats are installed improperly. You’ll want to consult your car’s owner’s manual and the safety seat instructions when installing, and make sure that the seat supports your child’s height and weight. If you’re feeling unsure about whether or not you’ve installed the seat properly, look around for local events sponsored by Safe Kids Worldwide, at which you can receive in-person tips, as well as verification that your seat is correctly installed.

  2. Make sure that the harness straps are snug, straight, and flat, and that the chest clip is level with your child’s armpits. In the event of an accident, car seat harnesses are designed to distribute forces to the strongest parts of a child’s body, if correctly used. That’s why it’s important to make sure the straps are straight, flat, and snug, and that the chest clip is level with the armpits.
  3. Don’t turn the car seats forward too early. Many parents don’t like having their children in rear-facing child seats for long and wind up facing their children forward much too early. The fact is, however, that facing the rear is actually safer for all occupants (except for the driver, of course) in the event of an accident, as the head and neck are supported. You should use the rear-facing seat until your child outgrows the height or weight limit for that specific seat.
  4. Kids who are under 3 should not eat or drink without an adult directly next to them. This is because it is very easy for your child to choke without your noticing, especially when in a rear-facing seat.
  5. Do not under any circumstances leave a child alone in a car for any length of time. (This goes for your pets too!) In summertime, especially, cars can become incredibly hot—like really, really hot, even if it’s only in the 70s or 80s outside. According to GM, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle-related deaths in children under 14.

Have any other child vehicle safety tips that you use when transporting your tots? Share them with us below!