More than 50 car seats inspected by USA Health nationally certified technicians
Research shows that 46% of car seats are not used correctly. Using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce crash deaths among children.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
Fifty-one car seats were inspected, removed, and then professionally installed by nationally certified car seat technicians from USA Health during a community outreach event at the Strada Patient Care Center on June 23.
Checking how the seats are secured in a vehicle is vital. Research shows that having an infant, car or booster seat correctly installed can lower the risk of serious injuries and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also important to make sure children are properly buckled into their safety seats, notes the CDC, and that seat belts are appropriate for a child’s age and size.
In fact, car seat use reduces the risk for injury in a crash by up to 82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone, research shows.
“We want to make sure as many children as possible ride in seats that are correctly installed,” said Courtney Thomson, B.S.N.-NIC, a nurse and parent educator in the neonatal intensive care unit at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “Properly installed car seats can save lives.”
Unfortunately, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Research shows that some 46% of car seats are not used correctly. Using age- and size-appropriate car seats and installing them correctly are the best ways to reduce crash fatalities among children, safety experts say.
Trained technicians can help determine whether children are in the right seat for their age and size, and they can explain the importance of registering car seats with manufacturers, so owners can be notified if there is a recall.
During the most recent car seat inspections, all improperly installed car safety seats and boosters were removed and checked for expiration dates and damage. The event was staffed by Children’s & Women’s Hospital, USA Health Pediatrics, and Pediatric Associates of Mobile/USA Health.
Team members from Children’s & Women’s Hospital and other divisions have been providing free car seat inspections to the public for more than a decade. They plan to continue the initiative quarterly as a community service to our patients, their families, and others who need it. Follow our social media pages, including the USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital Facebook page, for updates about these upcoming events.
