Don’t Take a Vacation from Your Child’s Car Seat, Warns AAA & ENA
Phoenix, Ariz. July 14, 2008. When it comes to preparing for a summer vacation, many parents would not think twice about leaving home without a first-aid kit and sunscreen. While these items usually make it to their destination, other essentials, such as a child safety seat, do not. With summer in full swing and many families gearing up for their annual summer vacation, AAA Arizona and the Arizona Emergency Nurses Association (AZENA) would like to remind parents about the importance of child passenger safety.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 2 and older, claiming more lives than any other type of injury or disease. Across the country, more than 1,400 kids die and over 200,000 are hurt each year in car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these numbers could be easily reduced by half if every child passenger was properly buckled up.
“Thousands of children are killed and injured each year as the result of improper use of a safety seat, or no use of a safety seat at all,” said AAA Arizona Public Affairs Manager Linda Gorman. “Unfortunately, we experience more of these tragedies in Arizona as a result of inadequate child passenger seat laws. There are nearly 700,000 children under the age of eight in Arizona. All of these children should be in a car or booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle.”
Arizona ranks 4th in the country for child passenger deaths. This is in large part due to the fact that Arizona’s child passenger seat laws are less stringent than other parts of the country. In fact, Arizona only requires children under the age of 5 and/or 40 pounds to be secured in a federally approved car seat. The other 38 states and the District of Columbia have laws that further require children to sit in booster seats from a range of 6 to 9 years old or 4’9” inches tall.
“Younger children are more likely to be regularly restrained while children ages 4 through 7 are much more likely to be improperly restrained for their size and age,” said State President of the Arizona Emergency Nurses Association Tomi St. Mars, RN, MSN, CEN, FAEN. “Because Arizona does not have a law that protects children above the age of 4, it is up to parents to make sure their children are riding in the appropriate safety seat until they can safely ride using only a lap-shoulder belt.”
For families planning to travel with children under the age of 8 and/or 4’9”, AAA Arizona and the AZENA would like to offer the following child safety seat tips to parents and guardians:
- Rent-a-seat! If you forget to bring your seat from home or do not want to worry about bringing your seat from home, consider renting one! Most rental car companies also offer child passenger seat rentals for about $10 per day. If you are a AAA member, Show Your Card & Save partner Hertz is offering free use of two child safety seats with a Hertz rental.
- Find the right fit. It is important that your child is riding in a seat that is right for them. To learn what seat your child belongs in, visit http://www.aaaaz.com/news/articles/SafetySeatGuideArticle.htm. Once you determine which seat your child needs, visit NHTSA’s ease-of-use ratings to see how car seat features differ among various models.
- Proper installation. A child passenger seat cannot properly protect your child if installed incorrectly. To locate a car seat technician across the country, visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/
- Lead by example. Your children watch everything you do. Be a role model and always wear your seatbelt. Also, make safety a priority by making sure everyone in your vehicle buckles up each and every time.
- Be consistent. Do not take chances with your child’s safety seat. Use a car seat every trip, every time.
Since the passage of the first child safety seat law in 1978, over 8,000 children have been saved by the proper use of child restraints.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
