At the safety class, I learned so many things about car seat safety. Did you know September 15-21st is Child Passenger Safety Week?
Car crashes are the LEADING cause of death in children age 1-12 years old. I didn't know that! I can only guess how many of those come from the child not being properly restrained.
I remember in my class, one of the moms who was there to share her story, brought a Safety 1st car seat in with her, and was explaining how one day another car hit her, and her truck flipped in the air twice, before finally landing upside down. When the police came, the mom was trapped and she was trying to tell them to make sure the baby was OK...the police couldn't find the baby, finally they looked up and saw him asleep strapped in his seat perfectly.
She explained that if it had not been for that car seat, she was sure her son wouldn't have lived through the crash.
Since that day, I have taken a different approach to car seat safety.
I wanted to share with you some of these new car seats from Safety 1st in honor of Child Passenger Safety Week.

The
Elite 80 works in rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 pounds, then
converts to forward-facing with harness, but features an extended weight
range to keep children safely in harness all the
way to 80 pounds. In its 3rd mode, the Elite 80 goes beyond the
traditional convertible seat to convert into a belt-positioning booster
car seat for children up to 100 pounds.
Additionally Air Protect +
combines the advanced protection of our Air Protect® cushion system
with patented GCell HX™ foam designed with hexagonal shapes for 100%
full body production.

This convertible car seat was inspired by race car drivers. Air Protect+ combines Safety 1st
Air Protect® Technology with GCell
HX™ - hexagonal rebounding foam used in the body of the car seat to
protect the child from the multiple hits that occur in crashes. Coupled
with this is the placement of Air Protect® Technology which takes crash
forces away from a child’s head. This technology
was developed in partnership with racecar engineers at
Bald Spot Sports and INDY Car Driver Scott Dixon to better understand the energy dynamics a high performance driver faces in the event of a crash.

The
BoostAPak is designed to help keep kids in boosters longer, as it’s
often hard to get an older child to stay in his or her booster seat.
This booster seat also doubles as a backpack! For
children 4 to 7 years old, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59%
compared to seat belts alone. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).
Additionally, the AAP recommends children ride in boosters until the age
of 12 or 57 inches; but only 13% of children 54-56
inches tall ride on one (NHTSA)
Additionally, here are some tips from Julie Vallese, Safety 1st Consumer Safety Expert.
Importance of Rear Facing
In
March of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their
car seat recommendations advising that children should remain rear
facing until the age of two, or until they reach the
maximum height and weight requirements allowed by their car seat.
According to a study in the
Journal of Injury Prevention
children under the age of two are 75 percent less likely to die or be
severely injured in the event of a car crash if they are rear facing.
When a child is rear facing their head, neck
and spine are better supported and in the event of an accident, crash
forces are distributed over the child’s entire body.
Installation
According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 75% of car seats
are installed incorrectly. Every car and car seat has different
requirements for the safest installation so before
you get started it is important to read both the car seat and car
manual.
Typically
the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, and never
install a car seat in the front seat. If your car does not have a latch
connector for the middle seat, you can use
the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing,
make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side
to side. An easy way to test this is to hold at the belt path.
New
parents and grandparents are encouraged to attend a car seat check
before the baby is born. However, don’t just rely on the experts.
You’re likely going to be taking the car seat out and
installing it somewhere else at some point, so make sure you’re
comfortable with the process too.
Car Seat Expiration
Never
use used or old car seats. Car seats do have an expiration date and it
is to understand the risks associated with using an expired or old car
seat. The reason for an expiration date is
because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car
seats less safe to use. Car seat technology and state and federal car
seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago
may no longer meet federal testing regulations.
Important warning labels may wear out and instruction books may get
lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.
One reader is going to WIN one of the 3 car seats mentioned in this post (winner can choose the one they prefer!) Enter using the rafflecopter form below. GOOD LUCK, and BE SAFE!!
no, never been in an accident
ReplyDeleteno I have never been in a accident with my kids in the car.
ReplyDeletevandenbossche3@hotmail.com
the closest one to me is 5 mins away
ReplyDeletevandenbossche3@hotmail.com
no, i have not, fire station.
ReplyDeleteLuckily we have never been in an accident. My child is ALWAYS in a car seat.
ReplyDeleteThe Macomb County Health Dept inspects.
ReplyDeleteI have never been in an accident but my son is always in his car seat.
ReplyDeleteThe closet one to me is the local hospital approx. 7 miles away.
ReplyDeleteno i have no been in an accident ever in my life...:)
ReplyDeletessgsweeps @ hotmail.com
we can get our car seat installed at the fire house around the corner!
ReplyDeletessgsweeps @Hotmail .com
No, I haven't been in a car accident since I was 5 years old.
ReplyDeleteLeflers Collision and Glass in Evansville, Indiana
ReplyDeleteNo I have not! I hope to never deal something like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
no thank god , I have not been in an acedent with my child
ReplyDeletewe get ours inspected by the local pd
ReplyDeleteWhen my oldest son was about a year old, a car ran into us from the back, while we were yielding before entering another street. He was in a car seat...and has always been. The car was totalled, but thankfully nothing happened to my son.
ReplyDeleteThen again, about two years ago, our entire family were in the car stopped at a red light, when a car ran into us from the back. All of the kids were in car seats.
The closest car seat inspection station in our area is at our local fire station down the street.
ReplyDeletethankfully we have avoiding a car accident while the kids were in the car.
ReplyDelete*Kelly
Kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
we have a lot of inspection stations in the dallas area.
ReplyDelete*Kelly
Kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
I have NEVER been in an accident...thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteWalla Walla Fire Department
ReplyDelete200 South 12th
Walla Walla, WA 0
Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 2-6 PM
Phone: 509-526-3529
No, thankfully! And the fire dept. down the street does them :)
ReplyDeleteNo I have never been in an accident with my children in the car. I would love to give this to my niece who is having a baby
ReplyDeleteThis is a scary question. god forbid. no
ReplyDeleteThe nearest one to me is in eastchester NY
I was in an accident with my daughter when she was about six months old. Thankfully she was buckled in her car seat!
ReplyDeleteI could not get the link to work to find local car seat inspections but I know my local police department will do this at any time.
ReplyDeleteBy God's grace, such a situation never happened so far.
ReplyDeleteblessienelson(at)gmail(dot)com
My station is located in Friendswood, TX which is 30 minutes away - no problem!
ReplyDeleteI have never been in an accident with a child in a car seat.
ReplyDeleteMy local police station has inspections.
ReplyDeleteFire station. And no I have not!
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't, thankfully!
ReplyDeleteThankfully I have not been in an accident with my child in the car, one of my WORST fears though.
ReplyDeleteOur inspection is at "Safe Kids orange Co/ Chick Fil A". Seems like a perfect opportunity to have a great lunch AND get my son's car seat inspected! Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteYes. It was minor accident and all of my kids were in cars eats. They didn't even wake up!!
ReplyDeleteKingsport Fire Department
ReplyDelete130 Island St.
Kingsport, TN 37660
I have not been in a car accident with my kids
ReplyDeletekellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
My closest location is the state police in Dunmore PA
ReplyDeletekellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
I've never been in a car accident with my daughter in the car.
ReplyDeleteThe closest location to me is in Raymore, about 8 min away
ReplyDeletethankfully no, my mom got rear ended with them in the car once and yes they were in car seats
ReplyDeleteThe closest location for me is the Rochester NH police department it is about 15 minutes from my house
ReplyDeleteno thankfully I have never been in an accident with the kids
ReplyDeletebabies r us in pompano
ReplyDeleteI have been rear ended, not too bad, but my daughter was unharmed thanks to her car seat!
ReplyDeleteAll Children's Outpatient Care, Sarasota, Florida
ReplyDeleteI was rear-ended when my daughter was a baby. She was in her car seat and didn't have a scratch on her.
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never been in an accident.
ReplyDeleteMy closest one is at a AAA.
ReplyDeleteTombigbee Public Health District IV
ReplyDelete732 Whitfield Street
Starkville, MS 39759
I have never been in an accident
ReplyDelete1. Cortland County Sheriff's Department
ReplyDelete54 Greenbush Street
Cortland, NY 13045
no, I have not been an accident with my child
ReplyDeletethe summerville fire station
ReplyDeleteNever been in an accident with my daughter. So thank for for that too.
ReplyDeleteKnoxville Police Department
ReplyDeletenever been in an accident
ReplyDeleteKissimmee Police Department
8 N Stewart Ave.
Kissimmee, FL 0
We were rear ended and my son was in his car seat and he was totally fine, but we still made sure at the ER.
ReplyDeleteInspection at ICAP
ReplyDeleteNew Castle, IN
Thank goodness I have never been in a car accident at all "knock on wood"
ReplyDeleteThe closest car seat inspection is Onslow County Buckle Up Kids in jacksonville, NC
ReplyDeleteNever been in an accident
ReplyDeleteJunction city Fire station
ReplyDeleteNo ive never been in an accident
ReplyDeleteamanda sakovitz
Taunton Police Department
ReplyDelete23 Summer Street
Taunton, MA 02780
Amanda Sakovitz
No I have never been in an accident with my kids.
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
The Car Seat Inspection Location in my area is
ReplyDeleteLynnfield Fire Department
59 Summer Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Yes, we were in one last year. It was as small one, but so scary! We would use the Northfield Hospital- First Touch Birth Center
ReplyDelete2000 North Ave
Northfield, MN 55057
Hours: Call to schedule an appointment!
Never been in an accident with my child!
ReplyDeleteWe have one at our local hospital and at 2 of the police departments!
ReplyDeleteI'm expecting our first child, so no, I haven't been in an accident with a child yet - and hopefully never will be! :)
ReplyDeleteAngela Rhodes Ingles
nofearpapertiger AT Gmail dot com
One of the places we can go to get our child safety seat inspected is:
ReplyDeleteNew York State Police
7237 Route 415
Bath, NY 14810
Angela Rhodes Ingles
nofearpapertiger AT Gmail dot com
Whitehouse Fire Station is our local place!
ReplyDeleteI have never been in an accident, so therfore my children weren't either.
ReplyDeleteI have not been in an accident since my child was born.
ReplyDeleteCar seat inspection at Seminole Co. Safe Kids Coalition in Casselberry
ReplyDeleteMy son is only 5 months old and thank God we haven't been in an accident!
ReplyDeleteMontbello Family Health Center
ReplyDelete12600 Albrook Dr
Denver, CO 80239
I never have myself, but when I was a baby I was in a car accident and my car seat saved my life.
ReplyDeleteThe Cottonwood Fire Department
ReplyDeleteAs a nanny, I was in an accident with the child in a booster seat. Everyone was fine, but I was grateful for the safeness of the seat!
ReplyDeleteBlue Ash Fire Department
ReplyDelete10647 Kenwood Rd
Blue Ash, OH 45242
The closest one to me is the Mt. Prospect Police Department which is great! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've never been in an accident with the kids I watch (who are often in my car!) thank goodness but I've been in two accidents where other people were just driving carelessly. I was always thankful the kids weren't with me but I always have them in their car seats. If I don't have the car seats we don't go anywhere, it's not worth the risk!
ReplyDeleteFortunately I have never been in an accident with my daughter.
ReplyDeleteEarly Learning Coalition in Pensacola, FL
ReplyDeleteThankfully, we have never had an accident since we've had kids!
ReplyDeleteCanton City Health Department
ReplyDeleteCanton, OH
no accidents
ReplyDeleteheather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
yes.
ReplyDeletethe fire station
nope haven't had an accident with child yet - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteNo accidents
ReplyDeleteThe closest car seat inspection station in our area is at our local sheriff office.
ReplyDeleteI have never been in an accident, thank goodness! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
ReplyDeleteReneewalters3 at yahoo dot com
The fire station is the closest. Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
ReplyDeleteReneewalters3 at yahoo dot com
No, I have been extremely fortunate to have never been in an accident with one of my children in the vehicle.
ReplyDeletejweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
The closest for me is the Skyland Fire Department about ten miles from my home.
ReplyDeletejweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Never been in a car accident.
ReplyDeleteMy inspection station is at allstate insurance.
ReplyDeleteI have once.. and yes she was
ReplyDeletecloset place was emmc
ReplyDeleteNo I have never been in an accident. My children stayed in car seats to the right age.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been in an accident with my child yet, thank goodness! The fire station is the closest place to have my car seat inspected.
ReplyDeleteCar seat inspection location near me: Lady of the Sea General Hospital
ReplyDelete200 W 134th Pl
Cut Off, LA 70345
I've never been in an accident with a child in the car, but my ex-husband was... our son was in his car seat and was perfectly fine, not a scratch on him!
ReplyDeleteThe nearest Car Seat Inspection Location is the local hospital, you call to make an appointment. (Good information to know!)
ReplyDeleteThankfully I've never been in a car accident. My sister-in-law was in one with her child, but no one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteclosest one is in the town over, about 20 minutes away
ReplyDeleteNever been in accident, inspection is at state troopers.
ReplyDeleteyes I have and yes he was in his car seat
ReplyDeletenone in my area it says
ReplyDeleteNo accidents.
ReplyDeleteIt is at the local hospital
ReplyDeleteno I havnt
ReplyDeleteno I havnt
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I have never been in an accident with my child.
ReplyDeleteIt is at the local fire station.
ReplyDeleteno I have never been in a car accident
ReplyDeleteNo, we've been very lucky so far, thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteThe closest to me is the Battlefield Fire Protection District!
ReplyDeleteNever have and knock on wood it never happens
ReplyDeletebrich22 at earthlink dot net
we have one here
ReplyDeleteDowntown Health Plaza
1200 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Winston Salem, NC 27101