An average of four kids aged 14 and under die in car crashes every day and more than 500 are injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
However, the risk falls dramatically when a car seat is properly installed. This week marks NHTSA's annual car seat safety initiative, Child Passenger Safety Week, to educate parents about proper car seat safety and installation, and prevent juvenile injuries on the road.
A recent survey by Dorel Juvenile Group USA and AAA finds 56 percent of parents do not know the safest position for a single car seat is the center of the rear seat. And while an overwhelming majority (92 percent) said they were very or somewhat sure that their current car seat or booster seat was installed correctly, data collected by NHTSA suggest as many as 75 percent of car seats on the road today are not properly installed.
Problems abound
ConsumerAffairs.com has received many complaints about child car seats over the years.
"I bought the Disney infant car seat," writes Kacie of Cassopolis, MI. "Got it all ready to take to the hospital for when I had my son. When we were getting read to leave the hospital, the nurse came to see if we had him in the car seat right and realized that the latch that hold the straps together was missing!!! The hospital wasn't going to let us leave without his being in a safe car seat. What ended up happing is they gave us a car seat as a gift. Thank God for that!"
Taren of Moline ,IL, says her Evenflo car seat is "very dangerous." She tells ConsumerAffairs.com that the latch that is supposed to go over his chest doesn't, but goes over his neck instead and chokes him. "I had called the company to get a refund or something else in exchange," she writes, " and they said they could not do anything;, they said to wait till he was 30 pounds then use the regular seat belt in the car seat."
The Cosco car seat, which is made by Dorel, that she received as a gift has been nothing but trouble, according to Mary of Baltimore, MD.. "The latch part that goes between my son's legs is extremely hard to buckle into the shoulder harnesses," she writes. "I literally have to stand and push down with all my might on each buckle to get them to snap in! There is hardly any padding to protect his head should we be in a crash, and it will not stay secure. It wobbles from side to side tremendously -- so much so, I have to sit in the back seat with him to hold it steady!"
Car seat tips
Parents and caregivers confused about car seat safety can consult a number of resources for more information and safety tips. Dorel suggests parents abide by the following guidelines when purchasing and installing car seats:
• Children are significantly safer rear-facing. Look for a car seat that can be used rear facing for as long as possible. Some car seats can be used rear facing for a child up to 40 pounds.
• Make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child's weight and height. The harness on the car seat should fit your child snugly and not move up and down or side to side. Also, ensure the car seat is at the appropriate angle for the child's weight and height.
• Do not buy used or expired car seats. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations.
• All car seats should be replaced if they have been involved in an accident. Even a minor accident can compromise the structure of the car seat. Warped plastic and frayed materials make seats less safe to use.
• Consult expert resources with any questions. Make an appointment with your local police or fire department to ensure your car seat is properly installed.
