Avondale Fire Department, Arizona

Each year approximately 1,800 children ages 14 and under are killed as occupants in motor vehicles, and more than 280,000 are injured. The State of Arizona requires that children up to the age of five be restrained in the appropriate car seat for the child's age and/or weight. When children car seats are correctly installed and used, studies indicate that the risk of death to infants can be reduced as much as 71%.

However, car seats can be difficult to properly install. In fact, studies have found that about four out of every five car seats are installed or used incorrectly. Factors contributing to the difficulty of using seats correctly include a variety of age and size requirements, incompatibility between car seat and vehicle design, improper seating position and gaps in child occupant protection laws. If you have a child young enough to be in a car seat, chances are that there could be some things you could do to improve their chances of not getting injured or killed in the event of a vehicle accident. Here are some guidelines and tips for proper use of your child's car seat:

• Rear facing child safety seats should be used until the child is at least 20 lbs. AND at least 1-year old.
• Never put a rear-facing infant or convertible safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger air bag. Children are safest in the back seat.
• For a snug fit, adjust the harness straps so they lie in a straight line without sagging. Place the chest clip at armpit level.
• Do not wrap your child up in a blanket, thick coat, or other thick garment prior to strapping him/her into the car seat.
• Children over 1 year old and between 20 and 40 pounds can be in forward-facing child safety seats, or in rear-facing convertible seats if the child has not reached the maximum rear-facing weight.
• Untwist harness straps. Twisted harness straps compromise protection.
• Children ages 4 to 8 (about 40 to 80 pounds) should be in a booster seat and restrained with lap and shoulder belts every time they ride. Adult safety belts alone do not adequately protect children this size from injury in a crash.
• Usually, children over 80 pounds and 8 years old can fit correctly in lap/shoulder belts. When the child is sitting all the way back against the vehicle seat, the lap belt should fit across the child's hips, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder. Do not let your children put shoulder belts under their arms or behind their backs. This could result in serious injuries.
• Read your child safety seat instruction manual and vehicle owner's manual carefully for proper installation. The seat should be locked tightly against the vehicle seat - it should not move more than 1 inch forward or side-to-side.