Vestavia Hills Fire Department
Child Safety Seat Program
The Vestavia Hills Fire Department is certified under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized in child passenger safety education and inspection site. The purpose of this valuable service is to make sure that we assist and educate citizens on how to properly install and secure their children in vehicle restraint systems according to child passenger safety guidelines. Teaching others how to properly install child safety seats in their vehicles according to safety guidelines provides a valuable resource for our community and ensures a safer environment for our children.
Motor vehicle crashes is the leading cause of death each year in children from 2 – 14 years of age. This age group accounts for 20 percent of the total population in the United States. Each year, approximately 1,800 children who are less than 14 years of age lose their lives as the result of a motor vehicle crash.
Child safety seats, when properly installed, save lives! Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and toddlers in passenger cars. A study released by the National Safe Kids Campaign, however, reports that at least 85 percent of the 17,500 seats inspected were installed incorrectly. The most common misuses were the safety belt not holding the seat tightly and harness straps not being used properly.
Important Safety Reminders:
- Failure to read the child safety seat instructions, in addition to vehicle owner manual instructions regarding seat belts, could result in serious injury or death as a result of a failure of the child safety seat to be securely and/or properly restrained.
- Children in rear-facing child seats should not be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. The impact of a deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child seat could result in injury to the child. NHTSA also recommends that children 12 and under sit in the rear seat away from the force of a deploying air bag.
- Children age 12 and under are safest when properly buckled in the back seat of a motor vehicle.
- Always read the child restraint manufacturer instructions and the vehicle owner manual instructions.
Vestavia Hills Fire Department is now providing seat inspections every Thursday and Sunday excluding holidays of each week by appointment only.
Please call (205) 978-0225 to schedule your seat inspection today!
Links:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
http://www.safehomealabama.gov/files/Child_Restraint_Regulations.pdf
http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg4.htm
Vestavia Hills Fire Department
Child Safety Seat Program
The Vestavia Hills Fire Department is certified under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized in child passenger safety education and inspection site. The purpose of this valuable service is to make sure that we assist and educate citizens on how to properly install and secure their children in vehicle restraint systems according to child passenger safety guidelines. Teaching others how to properly install child safety seats in their vehicles according to safety guidelines provides a valuable resource for our community and ensures a safer environment for our children.
Motor vehicle crashes is the leading cause of death each year in children from 2 – 14 years of age. This age group accounts for 20 percent of the total population in the United States. Each year, approximately 1,800 children who are less than 14 years of age lose their lives as the result of a motor vehicle crash.
Child safety seats, when properly installed, save lives! Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and toddlers in passenger cars. A study released by the National Safe Kids Campaign, however, reports that at least 85 percent of the 17,500 seats inspected were installed incorrectly. The most common misuses were the safety belt not holding the seat tightly and harness straps not being used properly.
Important Safety Reminders:
- Failure to read the child safety seat instructions, in addition to vehicle owner manual instructions regarding seat belts, could result in serious injury or death as a result of a failure of the child safety seat to be securely and/or properly restrained.
- Children in rear-facing child seats should not be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. The impact of a deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child seat could result in injury to the child. NHTSA also recommends that children 12 and under sit in the rear seat away from the force of a deploying air bag.
- Children age 12 and under are safest when properly buckled in the back seat of a motor vehicle.
- Always read the child restraint manufacturer instructions and the vehicle owner manual instructions.
Vestavia Hills Fire Department is now providing seat inspections every Thursday and Sunday excluding holidays of each week by appointment only.
Please call (205) 978-0225 to schedule your seat inspection today!
Links:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
http://www.safehomealabama.gov/files/Child_Restraint_Regulations.pdf
http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg4.htm