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Child SAFETY SEATS

When properly used, and installed correctly, your child’s safety is secure. Our CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN (CPST) conducts Safety Seat checks to ensure proper installation of the car or booster seat, the seat is free of recalls and is not past its expiration date. During this process, Parents and Care Givers are educated on the importance of proper car seat safety.

Protect-A-Tot's one-on-one educational safety check usually takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the car seat and the vehicle. Protect-A-Tot will take all the time necessary to ensure that you feel competent and confident in re-securing your car seat in the vehicle and re-buckling your child into his or her car seat on your own.

• Fill out a checklist form (including car seat type, location in vehicle, misuse observations, if any, etc.)
• Review car seat selection appropriate for your child's age, size, and review factors affecting proper use.
• Review the restraint manufacturer's instructions and the vehicle owner's manual with the caregiver and ensure that both are being followed correctly.
• Ensure that an appropriate seating position in the vehicle is being used, especially when using LATCH.
• Check the car seat for recalls, visible damage and an expiration date.
  • If the seat is unsafe, you should replace the seat since it may not work as it should in a crash.
• Show what is correct or will be corrected before making the adjustment.
• Have you install the car seat(s) correctly using either the seat belt or LATCH system. Feel free to ask to learn how to install the seat with either options or in different seating positions.
• Discuss the next steps for each child, such as when to move to the next type of restraint:
  • Rear-to-Forward facing car seat
  • Forward-facing harnessed seat to a booster seat
  • Booster to an adult safety belt
• Discuss the benefits for everyone, including all adults, to riding properly restrained.
• Discuss safety in and around the vehicle (never leaving kids unattended, walking around the vehicle before moving, etc.)
• Discuss Florida state laws and best practice recommendations for occupant safety
  

This tool is brought to you by the Child Restraint Manufacturer's Consortium Consortium members: Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Compass-Learning Curve, Dorel, Evenflo, Graco, Mia Moda, Orbit,Peg Perego, Recaro, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe Traffic Systems and Sunshine Kids.

According to Safe Kids USA:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to children ages 2 to 14 and the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 2.
• When installed and used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save lives. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.
• Children 2 to 5 years of age who are prematurely in seat belts are four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury in a crash than those restrained in child safety seats or booster seats.
• The overall critical misuse for child restraints is about 73 percent. Infant seats have the highest percent of critical misuse, followed by rear-facing convertible seats.