Despite the fact that they can be confusing and difficult to use correctly, car seats save hundreds of childrens lives every year. Everyone knows that infants and toddlers need to be in car seats, but did you know that older children need to be in booster seats as well? Many parents think that once a child has outgrown their car seat, they are ready for adult seat belts, which is not true. Adult seat belts do not fit children correctly and will not fully restrain them in a crash. In fact, children can be injured by the lap belt because it goes across the childs stomach, and the shoulder belt can cause head and neck injuries because it goes across the childs neck or face instead of the chest. A booster seat raises children up so that the lap and shoulder belts fit over their hips and chests properly and protect them properly in an accident.
Over the past few years, research has shown that the use of booster seats instead of adult seat belts lowers the risk of death and injury by 59% in children ages 4 to 7 years old. As a result, a new law went into effect in Georgia in July 2004 raising the age of mandatory use of booster seats; now children must use booster seats until they turn 6. However, all children should use booster seats up through age 8 years or until they are 49 (57 inches) tall. That is when an adult seat belt will fit them and protect them properly.
Confused about the guidelines for car and booster seat use? They can be simplified into 4 easy to remember steps:
1. Use rear facing infant-only or convertible seat in the back seat from birth until at least one year of age and 20 pounds
2. Use forward facing convertible or toddler seat in the back seat from age 1 and 20 pounds to about age 4 and 40 pounds.
3. Use booster seats in the back seat from about age 4 until about age 8 and 57 inches tall.
4. Then use adult seat belts in the back seat until at least age 12 (front seat air bags can kill young children).
Automobile accidents are the number one killer of children ages 2-14 in the U.S. and in the state of Georgia as well. The correct use of car seats and booster seats can dramatically reduce the risk of injury and death, saving hundreds of lives a year. For more information, visit boosterseat.gov.
