Welcome to our COMMUNITY BLOG! Throughout the year we will feature information, updates, and resources from the people who work with our children in our community.
September is Child Passenger Safety Month so this entry is brought to you by Cathi Kellett, Coordinator for the Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Chapter, based at Griffin Hospital.
Cathi is also a Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor. The next Car Seat Clinic in the area offered by Safe Kids will be held at the September 22nd Children's Health and Safety Fair at the Boys and Girls Club in Shelton, CT from 9am until 2pm. For details please click on the following link: http://www.myfirst8.org/events.html
Dear Families,
Did you know that only 1 out of 5 car seats in Connecticut is used properly? Safe Kids Worldwide, and your local Chapter, Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley, recommend that children ride in rear facing car seats until they are 2 years old or until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. CT Law requires infants to ride rear-facing until they are a minimum of one year old AND 20 pounds.
A properly secured child has the following:
Toddlers should be Forward Facing only after they outgrow their rear facing seats.
When facing forward the following ensures a secure fit:
Keep kids in car sets longer. Even kids 4 years and older should remain in a car seat until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. Once reached, the kids can be in booster seat.
Kids should be in booster seats until the seat belt fits, usually until they are between 8 and 10 years old. Connecticut law requires children to be in a booster seat until they reach a minimum of 60 pounds and they turn 7 years old.
When in a booster seat the following ensures a proper fit:
If your child isn’t using a booster seat, try this simple 5-Step test the next time you ride together.
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the vehicle. Kids like boosters because they are more comfortable, too!
Violators of the Connecticut car seat law must pay a fine and attend a 2-hour educational car seat class at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Remember children (and parents) are excited to be able to get out and go, let’s make it a happy and safe one!
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost 1 million children die of injuries each year.
By educating children and adults, we hope to make this number go away.
Cathi Kellett
Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Chapter Coordinator
Griffin Hospital
Community Outreach & Parish Nurse Dept.
September is Child Passenger Safety Month so this entry is brought to you by Cathi Kellett, Coordinator for the Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Chapter, based at Griffin Hospital.
Cathi is also a Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor. The next Car Seat Clinic in the area offered by Safe Kids will be held at the September 22nd Children's Health and Safety Fair at the Boys and Girls Club in Shelton, CT from 9am until 2pm. For details please click on the following link: http://www.myfirst8.org/events.html
Dear Families,
Did you know that only 1 out of 5 car seats in Connecticut is used properly? Safe Kids Worldwide, and your local Chapter, Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley, recommend that children ride in rear facing car seats until they are 2 years old or until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. CT Law requires infants to ride rear-facing until they are a minimum of one year old AND 20 pounds.
A properly secured child has the following:
- Harness straps are in the lower slots at or below should level
- Keep harness straps snug and fasten harness clip at armpit level
- Has your seat expired? Check the back or bottom of the seat for the expiration date
- Use LATCH or seatbelt, but NOT both
- Recline a rear facing set at about a 45 degree angle. A firmly rolled up towel or pool noodle under the seat may help.
- Make sure the seat does not move more than an inch side to side at the belt path.
- Infants must ride in the back seat facing the rear of the vehicle. This offers the best protection for your infant’s head, neck and spine.
Toddlers should be Forward Facing only after they outgrow their rear facing seats.
When facing forward the following ensures a secure fit:
- Attach the top tether strap to the tether anchor (tether anchors are available in most vehicles 1999 or newer
- Read owner’s manual for information on which harness slots should be used forward facing. Keep harness straps snug.
- Fasten harness clip at armpit level.
- Place seat in the upright position.
- Make sure the seat does not move more than an inch side to side at the belt path.
Keep kids in car sets longer. Even kids 4 years and older should remain in a car seat until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. Once reached, the kids can be in booster seat.
Kids should be in booster seats until the seat belt fits, usually until they are between 8 and 10 years old. Connecticut law requires children to be in a booster seat until they reach a minimum of 60 pounds and they turn 7 years old.
When in a booster seat the following ensures a proper fit:
- If your vehicle has a low back seat and your child’s ears are above it, you need a high back booster seat.
- A shoulder guard and a hip guard make the lap and shoulder belt work better on booster seat. Belt should flatly cover should and hip bones.
- Booster seats must be used with both the lap and shoulder belt, not just a lap belt. Kids this size are too small to fit correctly in an adult seat belt alone.
If your child isn’t using a booster seat, try this simple 5-Step test the next time you ride together.
- Does the child sit all the way back against the vehicle set?
- Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat?
- Does the seat belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
- Can your 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 ride safely in the vehicle. Kids like boosters because they are more comfortable, too!
Violators of the Connecticut car seat law must pay a fine and attend a 2-hour educational car seat class at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Remember children (and parents) are excited to be able to get out and go, let’s make it a happy and safe one!
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost 1 million children die of injuries each year.
By educating children and adults, we hope to make this number go away.
Cathi Kellett
Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Chapter Coordinator
Griffin Hospital
Community Outreach & Parish Nurse Dept.
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