Is Your Child Ready For A Seat Belt?

Is your child ready for a seat belt? Without a booster seat, Safe Kids Canada says a child can sustain serious internal injuries in a crash if the vehicle lap belt rides up on to the soft abdominal area rather than staying on the bony hips and thighs. More safety tips can be found online at www.safekidscanada.ca.

(NC)—When your child outgrew their forward facing car seat, did you move him or her into a booster seat? If you did, you're one of the growing numbers of Canadian families that use this important safety device, says Safe Kids Canada, the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children. In order to be properly protected, children need to use a booster seat in the car from the time they outgrow their forward facing car seat until they are at least four feet nine inches (145 cm) tall.

Still many Canadian parents skip the booster seat stage, leaving their children vulnerable to serious injuries, or even death, in the event of a crash.

Do you think your child is ready for a seat belt? Here's how to tell:

1. Shoulders:

Does the vehicle shoulder belt lie in the middle of the shoulder and across the middle of your child's chest, without touching the neck? It's dangerous for the seat belt to touch the neck because it can be easily injured in a crash.

2. Hips:

Does the vehicle lap belt rest low on your child's hips, under the belly area? The seat belt should lie on the hip bone area, not on your child's internal organs.

3. Seated Height:

Is your child at least 25 inches (63 cm) from tailbone to top of head while sitting up straight in a chair?

4. Knees:

Do your child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat without causing them to slouch forward in their seat? This helps your child stay comfortable, which prevents slouching.

If you answered “yes” to all four questions, your child is ready for a seat belt on its own.

These tips are part of the 2011 Safe Kids Week campaign, Give your kid a boost!, which runs from May 30 to June 5 and is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, with community grants supported by the Honda Canada Foundation. Learn more about booster seats or to find out if your child is ready for a seat belt online at www.safekidscanada.ca.

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