July Topic: Transportation Safety
Young children spend more and more time being transported from place to place in vehicles. Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are named as a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. With proper child safety seat installation and use, young children are less likely to be injured or killed during a car accident. Read these tips to help determine what type of safety seat to use, when to change safety seats, what the law says, and more!

Tips for all ages
These tips, as recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), can help keep children safe during transportation.

• Infants should ride in rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.
• If under age 1, but more than 20 pounds, infants should ride in a child safety seat approved for heavier babies and remain rear-facing until at least age 1.
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger air bag.
• Once children outgrow their rear-facing child safety seats (typically over age 1 and heavier than 20 pounds) they should ride in a forward-facing child safety seat until they reach the upper weight (usually 40 pounds) or height limits of the seat.
• Once children outgrow forward-facing child safety seats, they should ride in the back seat in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, at which point they should fit properly in a seat belt.
• After outgrowing a booster seat, children under age 13 should always use a seat belt and ride in the back seat. Remember, kids of all ages are safest when properly restrained in the back seat.
• Old/used child safety seats should not be used unless you are certain they have never been in a crash and you have all the parts (including instructions). Seats that are 6 years old or older should be discarded and never used.
• Always read both the vehicle owner's manual and the instructions that come with the child safety seat.
• It is important to remember that the "best" child safety seat is the one that correctly fits the child, the vehicle, and is used correctly every time.
• Get your child's safety seat checked! See our resource section below to find out how to get yours checked for free!

Four stages of car safety

• STAGE ONE: Rear-facing child safety seat. To be used until a child is at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds to decrease the risk of spinal injury in the event of a crash. It is recommended to keep children rear-facing longer until they reach the upper weight limit of their rear-facing convertible seat. Learn more here.
• STAGE TWO: Front-facing child safety seat. To be used by children who are at least 1 year old and weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. Learn more here.
• STAGE THREE: Booster Seat. To be used by children who weigh over 40 pounds and are usually around 4 years old. To be used until a lap/shoulder safety belt fits properly. Learn more here.
• STAGE FOUR: Lap/Shoulder safety belt. To be used when the lap/shoulder safety belt fits properly (shoulder belt is across collar bone & chest, lap belt fits across hips/thighs- not abdomen, etc). Usually between 8 and 12 years old and about 4'9" tall. Learn more here.

Wisconsin state laws
View a listing of all state laws- including Wisconsin's- for child safety seats by clicking here and selecting the "Occupant Protection Laws" category. According to this site, in Wisconsin the following laws apply:

• Children under 1 yr of age or less than 20 lbs must be seated in a rear-facing safety seat.
• Children between the ages of 1-4 yrs who are between 20-40 lbs must be seated in a forward-facing safety seat.
• Children between the ages of 4-8 yrs, between 40 - 80 lbs, and less than 57" must be seated in in a booster seat.
• All children must be properly secured/ restrained, which means that the seat must be used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

FREE car seat safety resources!

• Have your child safety seat checked for proper installation and use for FREE! Check here for a child safety seat inspection station close to you or call 1.866.SEAT.CHECK.
• View a list of recalled child safety seats here.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website has several child safety seat resources including information on the LATCH system, car safety ratings, and child seat ratings.
• Renting car seats might be an option. Here's an example of one such program in the Madison area.