The leading cause of death among children ages 3-14 in the United States is motor vehicle accidents.  We can decrease this number by more than half by placing children in appropriate safety seats. Safety seats that are installed correctly can decrease the risk of death by 71%in infants and 54% in toddlers, and decrease the risk of injury to children using booster seats by 59%. 

Mountain View Fire Rescue wants to take a stand and keep our kids safe.  According to Safe Kids USA, 55% of fatal crashes happen in the rural communities and are usually more severe.  As most of Mountain View’s district is in the rural area, we believe it is essential to properly install and always use a child’s safety seat. 

As there are many different types of car seats, it’s important to take the time and choose a high-ranked, quality car seat, booster seat, or safety seat for your child.  Most of these seats will have a sticker on the side that describes the height and weight minimums and maximums.  Now we will go through the correct way to install a safety seat to keep your child as safe as possible in the event of an accident. 

From birth to one year old and 20 pound requirements
Colorado law states that a child must be facing backward until the age of one.  However, it is recommended to keep them facing backwards up until the weight limit of 20 pounds is reached, or their second birthday.  To ensure your car seat is installed correctly follow these rules:

Additional products such as padding are not recommended as they affect the designed secure fit of the car seat.

One year old to three years old
Again, we recommend keeping your child rear facing until the maximum weight limit of 20 pounds is reached, or until their second birthday.  Follow these rules for a secure car seat:

1. Use the latch system or the seat belt system.
2. There should be no more than 1 inch sway from side to side.
3. The 5 piece harness should be secure against the child’s shoulders.
4. Assure the retaining clip is in the center portion of the chest, at the armpit level. 
5. This seat should be used until the maximum weight limit is reached which is typically between forty to forty five pounds depending on the seat you have chosen. 

Four years old to seven years old
Regardless of age, use a car seat or booster seat for your child until they have reached 4’9.”  In this category, a child’s height is the best predictor of a proper seat belt fit.  Children using a safety seat in this age group are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash than of children using a seatbelt alone.  Keep a child in a booster seat until their eighth birthday.  Here are the rules to follow for this age group:

1.  Make sure the lap belt is across the upper thighs and the lower abdomen. 
2. The shoulder belt should be across the center portion of the chest.
3. The seat should be used until the manufacture’s weight maximum is reached and the height of 4’9.”  
4. For a vehicle without a headrest, choose a high back seat. 

Eight years old to twelve years old
To keep your child as safe as possible, a safety seat or booster seat, should be used until the child has reached 4’9.”  Here is how to determine whether your child is ready to move out of the booster seat and use only a seat belt:

1. The child is 4’9” and has passed the maximum weight recommended by the manufacturer of the booster seat.
2. The child can sit all the way back against the auto seat.
3. The child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat. 
4. The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and the arm.
5. The lap belt is as low as possible, touching the thighs. 

For all age groups you should not use a car seat that has been in a car accident and you should never purchase one that has been used. 

Mountain View Fire Rescue believes in keeping our children safe.  By following these rules and routinely checking the car seat, we can reduce the number of child injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle accidents.