• Does your child ride in the back seat?  The back seat is generally the safest place in a crash.  If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children under 12 to ride in the back seat.
• Does your child ride facing the right way?  Infants should ride in rear facing restraints in the back seat until age 1 and at least 20-22 lbs.  Infants who weight 20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear facing weights.  Always read your child restraint manual for instructions on properly using the restraint.  Children over age one and at least 20 lbs. may ride facing forward.
• Does the safety belt hold the seat tightly in place?  Put the belt through the correct slots.  If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt path for each direction.  Check the vehicle owner's manual and safety seat instruction book for guidance.
• Is the harness buckled snugly around your child? Keep harness straps snug over the child's shoulders.  Place the chest clip at armpit level.
• Does your child over 40 lbs. have the best protection possible? Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until 40 lbs.  Then use a belt-positioning booster seat which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit your child better.  A belt positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80 lbs.  It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.
• How should a safety belt fit an older child?   The child should be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor.  The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs.  The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest.  Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back.  The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 lbs.

• One that fits you child-car seats are designed for children of different ages, weights and seated heights.
• One that fits your car-car seats fit differently in many models of cars and trucks.  The shape of the vehicle seat, the seat belt system and the size of the car seat will affect how well the car seat can be installed.
• One that you will use correctly ALL THE TIME-car seats have many different features.  All car seats must meet the same federal testing standard.  The most expensive car seat may not be the best choice for your.  It is important to buy a car seat that works best for you, your child and your vehicle.

  HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT WITH 5 POINT HARNESS


 

         Childs ears cannot go above the height of the seat.

       No more than 1 fingers width of play in shoulder strap.

         Chest clip should be placed nipple level or arm pit level.

       At the belt pass, there should not be more than 1" of play
           with with the car seat.


 

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart
Buckle Everyone, Children 12 and Under in the Back Seat

INFANTS SEATS

TODDLER SEATS

YOUNG CHILDREN

Weight

  Birth to 1 year at least 20-22 lbs.

Type of Seat

Infant only or rear-facing convertible

Seat Position

Rear-facing only

Always Make Sure

Children to one year and at least 20 lbs. in rear-facing seats.
Harness straps at or below
shoulder level

Warning

All children age 12 and under
should ride in the back seat

If you answer "NO" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in your car.

• Does your child sit all the way back against the car seat?

• Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the car seat"

• Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

• Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

    Booster seats "boosts" your child up in your car seat, making the seat belt fit your child correctly.  Booster seats help your child make the transition from riding a car seat to using a regular seat belt.

    Booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt.  Without the shoulder belt your child will have no upper body protection in the case of an accident.  Car booster seats can protect your child from head injuries, spinal cord injuries and keep them from being thrown out of the car.

BOOSTER SEATS COME IN TWO DESIGNS

1. High back boosters with harness:  The harness system should be used for children who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds.

2. Platform boosters:  This type of seat booster can be used if your car's seat back is higher than your child's ear.  Use a lap and shoulder belt.

YOUR CHILD CAN RIDE IN SEATBELTS WHEN

• Your child weighs more than 80 pounds

• Their knees bend over the seat when they sit back as far as possible with back straight

• The shoulder belt fits snugly across the middle of the chest and the lap belt fits low across the upper thighs

Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
Lincoln Park Fire Station
Hastings, NE

First Tuesday Of Every Month
10:00am until 7:00pm
For an appointment call:  1-866-367-TCSK (8275)
 

This is a joint project with
Hastings Fire & Rescue - Tri Cities Safe Kids
Hastings Police Dept. - Mary Lanning Hospital - Rural Metro Ambulance
 

If you have any questions, please contact us at
kgilbert@hastingsfire.org    Capt. Darin Clark

Tri Cities Safe Kids Toll Free Number
1-866-367-TCSK  (8275)