Sacred Heart - Inspiring Health

1 2 I N S P I R I N G H E A LT H ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four car seats are installed or used incorrectly. Paula Pater, Coordinator of Safe Kids Chippewa Valley at Sacred Heart Hospital, says most safety mistakes are the result of confusion, not negligence. "Sometimes even I read a car seat's installation instructions and am confused by how they are worded,'" Pater says. "On top of that, each car is different. A car seat in mom's van may not be installed the same way in dad's SUV." BACKSEAT BLUNDERS Consider these common car seat mistakes parents make, according to Pater. WHEN IT COMES TO CAR SEAT KNOW-HOW, MANY PARENTS COULD USE A LITTLE TIGHTENING UP. HOW SNUG IS YOUR CUDDLE BUG? "Making these mistakes doesn't mean you're a bad parent. Car seats can be frustrating. When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask for help from a certified car seat safety technician." —Paula Pater, Coordinator of Safe Kids Chippewa Valley at Sacred Heart Hospital Safety? Check. Sacred Heart Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital offer free, monthly car seat safety checks. Mark your calendar for the following upcoming safety checks: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. Location: Markquart Motors 2191 South Prairie View Road Chippewa Falls SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. Location: Tower Auto Body 1231 West Clairemont Ave Eau Claire Safety checks are performed on a first-come, first-served basis. The last safety checks are performed 30 minutes before the ending time. For more information, call Paula Pater at 715.717.4481 or the St. Joseph's Birth Center at 715.717.7421. Know your car seat's height, weight, or age requirements. Chart your child's growth frequently and graduate to a new car seat or booster seat at the appropriate time. It is more common for children to outgrow seats by height— not weight—first. Failing to tighten the harness. The harness should be tight enough that you cannot pinch the harness straps together at the shoulder. Keep the retainer clip at armpit level. Rushing the rear- facing period. While the law only requires children to be in a rear-facing car seat until they are a year old and 20 lbs., it is safer for them to ride rear facing as long as possible. They are five times less likely to be seriously injured in a crash if they are rear facing. Safe Kids recommends children stay rear facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing weight limit of their car seat. Not fastening properly. The car seat should be installed tight enough that it moves less than an inch in any direction at the belt path. Do not install with the seat belt and the latch together, as those systems are not crash tested together. Using an expired car seat. Most expiration dates are six years from the date the car seat was manufactured. Always check a car seat for its expiration or manufacture date. Purchasing a used car seat. "Never buy a car seat from a thrift store, rummage sale, or Web sites such as Craigslist, even if the seller claims the seat has never been involved in a crash," Pater says. "A car seat may not show visible damage after a crash, but it can still have hairline cracks that affect how well it will perform in a future crash."

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