It’s about halfway through summer and sixteen children in the United States have lost their lives to hyperthermia due to being left in a vehicle. It’s utterly heartbreaking every time a new one hits the headlines because it is so very preventable. Think it could never happen to you? Think you could never, ever, forget about your child in a car? Think again.
Driver safety and safety features in vehicles are evolving as fast as technology allows. Many of the things we learned during drivers’ education are now absolutely wrong, thanks to advances in occupant protection. There have also been advances to occupant protection that have nothing to do with what I learned in driver’s education but are
Everything you purchase comes with a manual, whether it is a lawn mower or a DVD player. When you are preparing for a child, multiply that by a bouncer, a high chair, a stroller and a swing. Chances are, you read them to know how to put them together and their basic function.
So, you’re scrolling through your local buy-sell-and-trade page, or your local craigslist ads, searching for maybe a new stroller, or some baby clothes for that little one that doesn’’t seem to stop growing. Then, you stumble across an ad for a car seat. “EXCELLENT CONDITION” is what the caption says, along with “Not expired!” It may be a great deal, a bargain, half of what that seat retails for in a store.
I like to think I’m a good driver. I abide by the speed limit, use my turn signal, stow my cell phone, and don’t drive when weather conditions are compromised. I have never been in an accident as a driver and I have not received any citations. I pay attention to my surroundings and limit distractions.
If you were in a car crash, whether it be a fender bender or something much more serious, (We hope you’re all okay!) there is a good chance you will need to replace the child restraints in your vehicle. While some seats follow NHTSA’s criteria for reuse after a minor crash, and may not need to be replaced after a minor crash as defined by NHTSA as long as all of the criteria are met, most will need to be replaced after ANY crash.
We’ve all been there. You’ve just poured a bowl of your favorite cereal, and you just can’t wait to get all of that deliciousness in your belly. You open up your jug of milk, and it hits you. That smell. You look at the label and your milk has expired.
Children aren’t the only passengers that need to be safe in vehicles. Are you correctly restrained as well?
It’s a question that comes up with invariable regularity for a CPST: when is my child ready to move from a 5 point harness to a belt positioning booster? Since each child and each situation is different, we’re not armed with one set answer; instead there are there are a few things to consider in making this move.
Ever wonder how car seats came about and what choices parents had at the beginning of production? We’ve been given the chance to review a seat from back in 1978 and would like to cover some of the basics of what has changed since we were kids.
