Is Your Child In The Right Car Seat?

Is Your Child In The Right Car Seat?

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American children. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.) estimates over 3,300 children under the age of 13 die in car crashes every year. Sadly, approximately 40 percent of these tragic accidents are the result of poorly fit car seats.

Securing children in an appropriate car seat for their age and size is a vital step to protecting them in an accident. Hundreds of parents and guardians unknowingly make simple mistakes when fitting, installing, or buckling their children in a car seat. Some adults skip the car seat altogether. These simple errors could lead to life-threatening injuries if an accident occurs, including the onset of traumatic injuries from improperly placed straps or the possibility of ejection from the vehicle.

Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week is an annual safety campaign highlighting the importance of making sure children are properly fit and secured whenever in the car. Last month, the N.H.T.S.A., along with countless other local and national safety organizations, focused on educating parents and guardians on the importance of choosing the right car seat and provide resources on how to ensure a child is properly secured on every ride.

Car Seat Mistakes To Avoid

Car seats will not protect children in an accident if they are being used incorrectly. The N.H.T.S.A. estimates that three out of four car seats are not being used properly. Some of the most common mistakes include:

  1. Installation Errors: Common installation mistakes include wrong angles, using the wrong belt, not securing seat correctly, not following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Turning Car Seat Too Soon: According to new recommendations released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should keep their kids rear-facing as long as possible. Yet, several parents turn their kids around well before just because it’s easier.
  3. Not Using the Top Tether: The top tether of the car seat can keep children facing forward from toppling in a car accident. Fatherly reports more than 64% of parents don’t even use the top tether, and 50% aren’t attaching it correctly.
  4. Tightening Shoulder Harness Incorrectly: Leaving space in the harness is extremely dangerous and can cause your child to slip out of the seat and be ejected from the car. There should be no slack in the shoulder harness.
  5. Letting Kids Wear Winter Coats: Winter coats can cause a child to be loosely secured in a seat, even if it appears the straps are tight. There are an extra four inches of space between the coat and the child that can cause a child to fly out easily.
  6. Choosing The Wrong Seat: If children are in a seat that is too big or too small, they can be seriously injured in a car accident without the proper protection for their bodies.
  7. Missing Recalls: Not sending in the registration form for your car seat can cause parents to miss important safety recalls for their products that could put your kids in danger.

The Worst Car Seats To Use

Car seats are expensive. The cost alone of a modern-day car seat is enough to hinder a parent’s choice to purchase a new one. But holding on to an older car seat or choosing a cheaper option may not be a safer alternative. Here are the types of car seats parents should avoid:

  • Expired Seats: Car seats have expiration dates for a reason. According to Consumer Reports, car seat components break down over time. This can lead to safety features failing in the case of a crash. Car seats that are typically over six-years-old should be replaced with newer models.
  • Car Seats That Have Been In Accidents: Car accidents apply a large amount of force on objects inside the car, including the seats. Safety experts recommend replacing car seats after an accident due to the stress placed on the safety components. Keeping seats after an accident could result in life-threatening injuries or the product to fail in a crash.
  • Second-Hand Seats:  Parents who buy second-hand seats do not know the history of the product. These models may have been subject to recalls, accidents, and other mistreatment that compromise their integrity and durability. The cost reduction is not worth the risk.

Best Car Seats of 2020

How do you know which car seat to choose? Child passenger safety seats should be determined by a child’s height, weight, and age. There are five types of car seats made for children: infant car seats, convertible car seats, booster seats, all-in-one car seats, and toddler booster seats. Each is designed to protect children up to a certain size and should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The number of choices for car seats can be overwhelming for parents, especially if this is their first time purchasing. Consumer Reports provides several resources parents can use to determine which seat is best for their child. Parents can also take advantage of the Find The Right Car Seat tool offered by the N.H.T.S.A.

Share this post

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Siler & Ingber Mineola MegaStar Contest begins on March 20, 2023 at 12:00 am ET and
ends on May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, a MegaStar must be a legal U.S. resident at least 16 years of age as of date of
Nomination. A Mineola MegaStar is defined as a person who lives or works in Mineola and is admired or idealized for their courage, dedication, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. By participating, Entrants agree to be
bound by the official rules. Sponsors reserve the right to verify and determine eligibility in their sole discretion.

TO PARTICIPATE: During the Promotion Period, Siler & Ingber will accept from the members of the public (herein, the “Nominators”) nominations of Eligible Entrants (Mineola Megastars) who live or works in Mineola. Nominations may be entered by visiting www.nylawnet.com/mineolamegastar and completing the online form and essay submission or by emailing photo and essay to marketing@nylawnet.com during the Promotion Period to receive one (1) entry. Essay must not exceed 500 words. Acceptable essay formats are word documents or pdf ONLY. Nominations submitted without all required information or after the Promotion Period will be disregarded.
Online submissions must be received by May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET to be eligible. All entries become the exclusive property of Siler & Ingber and will not be acknowledged or returned.

ESSAY: During the promotion period, an Entrant can nominate a Mineola MegaStar for the contest by submitting a
photo and essay. The essay must describe why the individual should be chosen as the award winner, including how the individual demonstrates some or all of the following qualifications:

1) an inspiring example to others by helping make Mineola a better place to live (through volunteerism, extra-curricular actives, special projects, giving back, etc.)

2) going above and beyond to aid a friend, family member, stranger or community in a time of need; and/or

3) love of profession and desire, determination and diligence to help outside of normal job responsibilities. The essay must be in English and no more than 500 words. All information provided must be truthful, accurate and complete. An Entrant cannot nominate more than one Hero.

Submitted Materials: Each essay must satisfy all the following submission requirements the Submission


Requirements:

· The essay must be the original creation of Entrant.

· The essay must not portray any recognizable individual without their prior consent, including consent from the
Hero.

· Entrant must either own all rights to the essay or otherwise have the right to submit the essay in the contest and to provide the rights to Sage Surfaces as set forth herein.

· The essay must not infringe any third party’s intellectual property rights.

· The essay may not contain illegal, indecent, obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit content, or otherwise offensive material or inappropriate content such as aberrational behavior, graphic violence, drug abuse, or nudity.

· The essay must not promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.

· The essay must be non-defamatory and must not invade any third party’s right of privacy or publicity.

· The essay must otherwise be appropriate for publication or broadcast or display on a general interest website.

By submitting an essay, each Entrant represents and warrants that the essay meets all of the submission
requirements and that the distribution, reproduction, display and any other uses of any part of the essay by Siler & Ingber as permitted herein will not infringe any third-party rights. Each Entrant further agrees to indemnify and hold Siler & Ingber harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, liabilities and causes of action of whatsoever nature that are based upon or arise out of any breach by such Entrant of such warranties or representations made by contestant or of these official rules.

By submitting an essay, Entrant grants to Siler & Ingber a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide, royalty-free license (and waives all moral rights in and to the essay) to display or otherwise use the essay in connection with this promotion and as set forth herein. If Siler & Ingber determines, in its sole discretion and at any time during the promotion period, that any nomination violates the submission requirements, is otherwise unsuitable, offensive, or in poor taste, or violates these official rules, Siler & Ingber reserves the right to remove and disqualify the essay. Siler & Ingber retains sole
discretion as to whether any nomination satisfies the submission requirements and the official rules.

WINNER SELECTION: For the entry period, a panel of judges will select potential Mineola Megastar finalists based on the compelling nature of the essay based on the criteria set forth herein. Top 5 entries will be announced on May 10, 2023. We will post the top 5 on social media. Final winner announced May 15, 2023. Award Ceremony for Mineola MegaStar will take place on May 19, 2023.


WINNER NOTIFICATION AND RELEASES: We will attempt to notify potential winners via telephone and/or email. If a potential winner: (a) does not respond within 48 hours of initial notification attempt; (b) is not in compliance with these official rules, (c) does not meet the eligibility requirements, (d) declines the prize, he or she will be disqualified, and an alternate winner will be selected by applying the criteria set forth above.
PRIZES: There is 1 Mineola MegaStar. Winner will receive a $500 Cash Prize.

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING: Submission of a nomination in the contest constitutes permission to Siler & Ingber to use Entrants name, identity, title, likeness, distinctive appearance, physical likeness, image, portrait, picture, photograph (whether still or moving), screen persona, voice, vocal style, statements, gesture, mannerism, personality, performance characteristic, biographical data, signature, social media handles and identities, and any other indicia or imitation of identity or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade, in any medium, without further notice, approval, or compensation, unless prohibited by law.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: No transfer, assignment, sale, duplication, cash redemption or substitution of Prize (or portion of Prize) is permitted, except by Sponsors, which reserve the right to substitute a Prize (or applicable portion of Prize) with one of comparable or greater value, as determined by Sponsors. Sponsors are not responsible for and will not replace a lost or stolen Prize or any component thereof. All Prize details are at Sponsors’ sole and absolute discretion. Non-compliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification and, at Sponsors’ sole discretion, the awarding of Prize to an alternate winner.

VERIFICATION OF OFFICIAL WINNER: ALL PRIZE WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION BY SPONSORS, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST.

Do I Have A Case

    Skip to content