Mott Buckle Up!

The bad news is that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. The good news is that many of these deaths can be prevented. When used correctly, car seats prevent injuries and save lives.

Goal

Increase awareness of the risks associated with motor vehicles crashes while increasing proper car seat use. These efforts will reduce injuries and deaths to children under 8 in motor vehicle crashes.

What We Do

Mott Buckle Up! is proud to provide nearly 300 reduced-cost child safety seats and inspect nearly 1500 child safety seats per year. Mott Buckle Up! provides services to both the community and patients at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Our Buckle Up! staff are all certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, two at instructor level, and specially trained in transporting children with special healthcare needs.

Our services include on-site appointments, patient/family consultation, education of parents/caregivers, kids, healthcare workers and other interested parties as well as training and certifying area Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

Car Seat Basics

It is estimated that 85% of car seats are not used correctly. One tool that many parents overlook is the value of information found in both the vehicle owner's manual and the car seat instruction manual. Taking time to understand and familiarize yourself with your vehicle and your car seat will make a difference in proper use.

• Selection
• Direction
• Installation

Selection

First things first, which car seat is right for your child?

• Has your car seat been recalled? Use the labels attached to the car seat to determine: manufacture - model - model number - date of manufacturer. This information is necessary to determine if the seat has been recalled. If labels are missing, consider the seat unsafe
• Do you know the history of the car seat to confirm that the seat has not been involved in a crash? Car seats are designed for one crash and may not perform properly in an addition collision.
• Has the car seat expired? Most car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture. Check all labels.

Types of car seats to consider:

• INFANT SEATS also known as "infant carriers" or "rear-facing only" seats. These seats are highly utilized for their convenience but are often limited by use of less than 1 year due to the weight limits of the harness (ie: birth - 22lbs)
• CONVERTIBLE SEATS also known as "toddler seats" and function both in a rear-facing and forward-facing mode. Due to the extended nature of the weight limits (ie: birth - 40lbs), these seats are common for families that are seeking a more economical option.
• COMBINATION SEATS also known as "forward-facing only" seats and typically will convert into a booster seat once the child meets the weight limits of the harness system. These seats are a great option for the child that is ready to be forward-facing and will need the function of the booster seat in the future.
• BOOSTER SEATS also known as "seat belt positioners" or "big kid seats."
  Children should ride in a booster once they have outgrown their harnessed seat, typically at 40 lbs, until they reach the height of 4 feet and 9 inches. Height is the true indicator for proper seat belt fit. Booster seats should always be used with a lap and shoulder belt.
• SEAT BELT is your child ready? To assess your child's safety in riding in a seat belt, conduct the 5 Step Test. This test is important because adult seat belts are designed to properly restrain children and poorly fitting seat belts can cause severe injuries in a crash.
The 5 Step Test
• Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
• Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
• Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
• Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.

Direction

Should my child be rear or forward facing?

Children should remain rear-facing until a minimum of 1 year AND 20 lbs. However, safety advocates, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children remain rear-facing as long as possible; until they reach the height or weight limits set by their car seat's manufacturer. Multiple research and case study reviews have continued to prove the benefits of extended rear-facing for children.

Installation

How do I properly install the seat and child in the seat?

**ALWAYS consult your car seat and vehicle owner's manual.

• Where?
• Latch or Seat Belt?
• Installation of Seat
• Placing Child in Seat

• Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of a frontal airbag.
• Children under 13 years of age should ride in the backseat whenever possible.

• Depending on your vehicle style, safety advocates recommend the center-rear seat position for the smallest and most vulnerable child. The center position places the child furthest away from any point of impact in a crash.

  If the center-rear position proves to be a difficult installation, poses a risk with older siblings next to the child, or simply does not exist, then attempt to properly install the car seat next to the door, commonly known as the outboard position.

  When choosing the outboard location, passenger side vs. driver side, consider your parking habits. If you use curbside parking with your children, consider which child is safer to be removed streetside vs. curbside.

• Start with consulting your vehicle's owner's manual; what is available in your vehicle and in which seating position?
• Both systems are equally safe. However, weight limits may exist with your LATCH system. Please refer to your vehicle owner's manual to determine this weight limit. In the event your child weighs more than this limit, the seat belt must be used.
• Only connect LATCH attachments to designated locations in your vehicle.
• There are variety of seat belt types and locking mechanisms. Please consult your vehicle owner's manual to determine how your seat belt will lock and function with your car seat.

• Booster seat installation requires the use of a lap and shoulder belt.
• Locate the appropriate "belt path", or the designated slot, on the car seat, for the seat belt or LATCH system. Route the webbing through this path.
• While placing your weight into the seat - take the 'cush out of the cushion' - and tighten the seat belt or LATCH system. When you remove your weight from the car seat, the cushion should rebound and create a tight fit.
• Check your installation by grabbing the car seat near the point of the 'belt path' and attempt to move, with moderate pressure, from side to side. A proper installation should not allow for more than 1 inch of movement.
  If movement exceeds one inch of movement, attempt to further tighten the seat belt and repeat.
• If your car seat is forward-facing, consult the vehicle manual for designated top tether anchors. Then attach the top tether located in the back of your car seat to this location and tighten.

• 1 layer of clothing is preferred for proper harness fit. During the winter months, consider placing blankets, or a coat, on top of the child once the harness has been secured
• Avoid the use of products that are not original to the seat. These "after-market" products are not endorsed by manufacturers and may affect the performance of the car seat in a crash. Any questions or concerns should be addressed with the car seat manufacturer.
• Do not place anything between the child and the harness or the child and the back of the car seat.
• Rear-Facing Children
• The harness should be routed through the slot at or below the child's shoulders.
• Harness should be snug with no slack - you should not be able to pinch any webbing.
• Chest clip, also known as a retainer clip, should be placed at armpit level.
• Forward-Facing Children
• The harness should be routed through the slot at or above the child's shoulders.
• Harness should be snug with no slack - you should not be able to pinch any webbing.
• Chest clip, also known as a retainer clip, should be placed at armpit level.
• Booster Seats
• Use a seating location with both a lap and shoulder belt.
• After placing the child on the booster seat, secure by placing the seat belt over top. Some booster seats have seat belt or shoulder belt guide. Consult your car seat manual for this instructions specific to your seat.

Useful Info

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

This national resource for parents/caregivers, educators and safety advocates provides a wealth of information including: current research reports, installation videos, statistics, educational resources, recall information, etc.

NHTSA - Office of Defects Investigation

Has your car seat been recalled? Use this resource to look up your car seat by manufacturer, register your car seat for future notification of a recall or to file a complaint or concern about your child's car seat.

Michigan Car Seat Check Finder

Find car seat checks and resources around Michigan.

National Child Passenger Safety Certification Program

Learn more about becoming a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

American Academy of Pediatrics - Car Safety Seats and Transportation

The AAP has information on topics ranging from car safety seats to school buses to teen driving.

Seatcheck.org

A national campaign to help parents properly secure their children in motor vehicles. Look up laws, read tips and tools and search and locate car seat checks across the country by zip code.