Thursday, September 5, 2013

Child Passenger Safety Week and Giveaway!

I have to admit. I have been to that parent driving class once. I was pulled over, and Riley wasn't buckled into his seat. He was 4 years old, and I felt like the worst parent on Earth. 

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. 

Image for Elite 80 Air + 3-in-1 Car Seat - Elian from DJGUSA 

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.  

Image for Advance 70 Air + Convertible Car Seat - Tyson from DJGUSA 

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.  

Image for BoostAPak Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat from DJGUSA 

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!!

 
   
a Rafflecopter giveaway

124 comments:

  1. no I have never been in a accident with my kids in the car.
    vandenbossche3@hotmail.com

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  2. the closest one to me is 5 mins away
    vandenbossche3@hotmail.com

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  3. Luckily we have never been in an accident. My child is ALWAYS in a car seat.

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  4. The Macomb County Health Dept inspects.

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  5. I have never been in an accident but my son is always in his car seat.

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  6. The closet one to me is the local hospital approx. 7 miles away.

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  7. no i have no been in an accident ever in my life...:)
    ssgsweeps @ hotmail.com

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  8. we can get our car seat installed at the fire house around the corner!
    ssgsweeps @Hotmail .com

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  9. No, I haven't been in a car accident since I was 5 years old.

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  10. Leflers Collision and Glass in Evansville, Indiana

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  11. No I have not! I hope to never deal something like that.
    Thanks for the chance.
    mogrill12@gmail.com

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  12. no thank god , I have not been in an acedent with my child

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  13. we get ours inspected by the local pd

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  14. When 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.

    Then 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.

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  15. The closest car seat inspection station in our area is at our local fire station down the street.

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  16. thankfully we have avoiding a car accident while the kids were in the car.
    *Kelly
    Kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com

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  17. we have a lot of inspection stations in the dallas area.
    *Kelly
    Kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com

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  18. I have NEVER been in an accident...thank goodness.

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  19. Walla Walla Fire Department
    200 South 12th
    Walla Walla, WA 0
    Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 2-6 PM
    Phone: 509-526-3529

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  20. No, thankfully! And the fire dept. down the street does them :)

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  21. No 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

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  22. This is a scary question. god forbid. no
    The nearest one to me is in eastchester NY

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  23. I was in an accident with my daughter when she was about six months old. Thankfully she was buckled in her car seat!

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  24. I 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.

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  25. By God's grace, such a situation never happened so far.
    blessienelson(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. My station is located in Friendswood, TX which is 30 minutes away - no problem!

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  27. I have never been in an accident with a child in a car seat.

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  28. My local police station has inspections.

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  29. I have never been in an accident.

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  30. La. State Police Troop G
    5300 Industrial Ext
    Bossier City, LA 71112

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  31. Thankfully I have not been in an accident with my child in the car, one of my WORST fears though.

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  32. Our 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!

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  33. Yes. It was minor accident and all of my kids were in cars eats. They didn't even wake up!!

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  34. Kingsport Fire Department
    130 Island St.
    Kingsport, TN 37660

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  35. I have not been in a car accident with my kids
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  36. My closest location is the state police in Dunmore PA
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  37. I've never been in a car accident with my daughter in the car.

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  38. The closest location to me is in Raymore, about 8 min away

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  39. thankfully no, my mom got rear ended with them in the car once and yes they were in car seats

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  40. The closest location for me is the Rochester NH police department it is about 15 minutes from my house

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  41. no thankfully I have never been in an accident with the kids

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  42. I have been rear ended, not too bad, but my daughter was unharmed thanks to her car seat!

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  43. All Children's Outpatient Care, Sarasota, Florida

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  44. I was rear-ended when my daughter was a baby. She was in her car seat and didn't have a scratch on her.

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  45. No, I've never been in an accident.

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  46. Tombigbee Public Health District IV
    732 Whitfield Street
    Starkville, MS 39759

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  47. I have never been in an accident

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  48. 1. Cortland County Sheriff's Department
    54 Greenbush Street
    Cortland, NY 13045

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  49. no, I have not been an accident with my child

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  50. Never been in an accident with my daughter. So thank for for that too.

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  51. never been in an accident
    Kissimmee Police Department
    8 N Stewart Ave.
    Kissimmee, FL 0

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  52. 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.

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  53. Inspection at ICAP
    New Castle, IN

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  54. Thank goodness I have never been in a car accident at all "knock on wood"

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  55. The closest car seat inspection is Onslow County Buckle Up Kids in jacksonville, NC

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  56. Never been in an accident

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  57. Junction city Fire station

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  58. No ive never been in an accident

    amanda sakovitz

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  59. Taunton Police Department
    23 Summer Street
    Taunton, MA 02780


    Amanda Sakovitz

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  60. No I have never been in an accident with my kids.

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  61. The Car Seat Inspection Location in my area is
    Lynnfield Fire Department
    59 Summer Street
    Lynnfield, MA 01940

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  62. 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
    2000 North Ave
    Northfield, MN 55057
    Hours: Call to schedule an appointment!

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  63. Never been in an accident with my child!

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  64. We have one at our local hospital and at 2 of the police departments!

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  65. I'm expecting our first child, so no, I haven't been in an accident with a child yet - and hopefully never will be! :)

    Angela Rhodes Ingles
    nofearpapertiger AT Gmail dot com

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  66. One of the places we can go to get our child safety seat inspected is:

    New York State Police
    7237 Route 415
    Bath, NY 14810

    Angela Rhodes Ingles
    nofearpapertiger AT Gmail dot com

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  67. Whitehouse Fire Station is our local place!

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  68. I have never been in an accident, so therfore my children weren't either.

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  69. I have not been in an accident since my child was born.

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  70. Car seat inspection at Seminole Co. Safe Kids Coalition in Casselberry

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  71. My son is only 5 months old and thank God we haven't been in an accident!

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  72. Montbello Family Health Center
    12600 Albrook Dr
    Denver, CO 80239

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  73. I never have myself, but when I was a baby I was in a car accident and my car seat saved my life.

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  74. As 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!

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  75. Blue Ash Fire Department
    10647 Kenwood Rd
    Blue Ash, OH 45242

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  76. The closest one to me is the Mt. Prospect Police Department which is great! Thanks!

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  77. I'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!

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  78. Fortunately I have never been in an accident with my daughter.

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  79. Early Learning Coalition in Pensacola, FL

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  80. Thankfully, we have never had an accident since we've had kids!

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  81. Canton City Health Department
    Canton, OH

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  82. no accidents
    heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com

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  83. nope haven't had an accident with child yet - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  84. The closest car seat inspection station in our area is at our local sheriff office.

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  85. I have never been in an accident, thank goodness! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
    Reneewalters3 at yahoo dot com

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  86. The fire station is the closest. Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
    Reneewalters3 at yahoo dot com

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  87. No, I have been extremely fortunate to have never been in an accident with one of my children in the vehicle.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

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  88. The closest for me is the Skyland Fire Department about ten miles from my home.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

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  89. My inspection station is at allstate insurance.

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  90. No I have never been in an accident. My children stayed in car seats to the right age.

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  91. I 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.

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  92. Car seat inspection location near me: Lady of the Sea General Hospital
    200 W 134th Pl
    Cut Off, LA 70345

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  93. 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!

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  94. The nearest Car Seat Inspection Location is the local hospital, you call to make an appointment. (Good information to know!)

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  95. Thankfully I've never been in a car accident. My sister-in-law was in one with her child, but no one was hurt.

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  96. closest one is in the town over, about 20 minutes away

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  97. Never been in accident, inspection is at state troopers.

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  98. yes I have and yes he was in his car seat

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  99. Thankfully, I have never been in an accident with my child.

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  100. no I have never been in a car accident

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  101. No, we've been very lucky so far, thank goodness!

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  102. The closest to me is the Battlefield Fire Protection District!

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  103. Never have and knock on wood it never happens

    brich22 at earthlink dot net

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  104. we have one here
    Downtown Health Plaza
    1200 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
    Winston Salem, NC 27101

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