Viva Vitality: Buckle up! Car seat safety with AHS
By CHLOE TRAUTMAN on August 5, 2022.
Parents and caregivers can make a life-saving decision by making sure children are properly secured in their car seat, booster seat, or seatbelt on every trip. When children use car seats they are less likely to be injured if involved in a car crash. So what are the best tips, tricks and timely information about car seat safety? Buckle up – let’s chat! All car seats manufactured in Canada go through extensive safety testing by Transport Canada. This will be shown by the National Safety Mark on your seat (CMVSS sticker). A car seat cannot be used in Canada that was purchased in a different country. The three considerations to make when buying a car seat include: • The car seat fits the child (height, weight and age). • The car seat fits the vehicle. • The car seat fits the person’s budget. There are four stages for child safety while being transported: Stage 1 – Rear-facing car seats: A rear-facing car seat is recommended to use until a child is two years of age or until the child reaches the maximum height or weight limit as stated by the manufacturer. Rear-facing is encouraged for as long as possible, as a child’s head, neck and spine are best protected in a sudden stop or crash. Stage 2 – forward-facing car seats: Forward facing car seats can be used when a child is at least two years of age or has reached the maximum height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat. Stage 3 – Booster seats: A booster seat is recommended once the child has reached the maximum forward-facing weight or height limit of their car seat as stated by the manufacturer. A booster seat lifts the child up so the adult seat belt fits their body properly around their hips and shoulder. Stage 4 – Seat belts: Once a child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall. Car seats can be different from one manufacturer to the next. Always rely on your car seat manual to guide you for proper use. There are two ways to secure the car seat into the vehicle: the Universal Anchorage System (UAS) or the seatbelt, not both. To know if the car seat is secured properly, the car seat should move less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) in any direction. To buckle a child in the car seat when rear-facing, the slots the harness straps go through should be at or just below the child’s shoulders. When forward-facing, the slots the harness straps go through should be at or above the child’s shoulders. Furthermore, ensure the chest clip is at the level of the child’s armpits, the shoulder harness lies flat with no twists, the harness is snug and cannot pinch a fold in the harness strap. For more information on car seat safety and keeping children safest in the vehicle, please visit: healthyparentshealthychildren.ca or myhealth.alberta.ca Also check your local Community Health Centre for a car seat technician to help with installation, inspection, and questions/education around car seat safety. Chloe Trautman is a Health Promotion Facilitator and Certified Car Seat Technician with Alberta Health Services in the South Zone. 16-15
