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[C574]Child Safety In Cars

by Greg Chapman, Gre

Most parents are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of their children, and feel confident that they are doing so by using a child safety seat for car travel. But the fact is that an alarming number of parents do not install safety seats properly, allow their children to graduate to a booster seat too early or fail to use a safety seat altogether, posing an enormous risk to their children’s safety in the event of a wreck. With car accidents being the number one cause of accidental deaths in young people, utilizing the proper protection in the car for a child’s age and weight is a serious responsibility for parents and is also required by law.

When used correctly, car seats significantly reduce infant deaths in car accidents. Still, improper use of a car seat is a very common mistake parents make. First of all, any infant one year of age or younger or weighing 20 pounds or less should be securely harnessed into a rear facing car seat reclined at a 45 degree angle in the back seat. Harness straps should be snug and at or below shoulder level, with the harness retainer clip that connects the straps positioned at the level of the infant’s armpit. Additionally, all fasteners should be attached as recommended by the car seat manufacturer. The safety belt securing any car seat should be always be taut and locked.

Once a child has reached one year of age and weighs over 20 pounds, the car seat may be arranged facing forward in the back seat. The harness and seatbelt requirements as described for rear facing car seats also apply for forward facing car seats. The harness should be snug such that only one finger can fit between the harness and the child’s collar bone. Placing a child in the back seat and away from airbags is extremely important for any of these situations.

Once a child has reached four years old, weighs at least 40 pounds and has outgrown his or her car seat, it is time to start using a booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. A child must fall into the appropriate height and weight range recommended for the booster seat in order to have adequate protection. A booster seat lifts a child to the proper height to allow for safe use of the seatbelt, which involves the lower strap being positioned over the child’s upper thighs and the shoulder strap fitting across his or her shoulder. The seatbelt must be properly routed through the booster seat in order to provide the protection for which the seat is designed. A child is ready to use a seatbelt with no booster seat only once he or she reaches a height of 58 inches (with a sitting height of 29 inches) and weighs at least 80 pounds. Additionally, the child must be able to bend his or her knees over the edge of the seat with his or her back firmly against the back of the seat. It is recommended for all children ages 12 and younger to ride in the backseat of a vehicle regardless of whether a booster seat is required.

Make sure to complete and return the enclosed registration card upon purchase of a car seat, so that you may be notified in case there is a safety recall on the model you purchase. Read and comply with all instructions and recommendations for your car seat. Failure to properly secure a child in a size and weight appropriate car seat can have devastating consequences in the event of an accident.

There seems to be a general misconception concerning child safety and child identification. In speaking with parents, one thing becomes very clear. Parents commonly believe, that by recording their children's fingerprints and DNA information, they have taken all the steps necessary in order to protect as well as provide identification for their children.

Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. Common sense dictates that the only time a child's fingerprints or DNA information would ever become necessary would be in the worst-case scenario, after the unthinkable has happened.

We as parents would like to watch over our children 24-hours a day, thereby, ensuring our children's safety. However, this is unrealistic.

In situations where young children get separated from their parents as well as natural disasters such as: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, we are reminded time and again, that children do not carry identification.

A Canadian company seems to have taken a very logical approach towards helping parents protect their children. Their small label can give parents great peace of mind as far as their children are concerned. Jerry Scala founded Child ID Labels inc. in 1995, with the intentions of offering his identification concept to fellow members of his congregation. However, within nine months, the fledgling program gained national exposure with their first recovery.

The company's first successful recovery happened on Easter Weekend, 1996, outside of Toronto, Canada. While his parents were in the kitchen, a small three year-old boy let himself out and wandered three blocks before ending up in a convenience store. The store's clerk noticed the identification label on the outside of the back collar and contacted the toll free number on the id label. The authorities, with Child ID's help, had the young escapee in his parent's arms in less than eight minutes.

Child ID's program helps parents deal with everyday events that happen, not out of neglect, but are due to situations that are beyond our control. Unlike other programs that are passive in nature and wait for something to happen before they spring into action, This company's unique focus and approach towards child safety and identification is proactive as well as preventative, thereby, offering parents an unparalleled amount of peace of mind.

In today's world, identity theft is not at all uncommon and, therefore, a very real concern.
Each Child ID ?kit? is assigned a unique, personal identification number (PIN) code, which is specific to each family.

The company supplies parents with an unlimited supply of the coded iron-on identification labels and coded weatherproof stickers, which can be placed on literally anything that leaves the home as well as key rings, which list the family's unique pin code, which can be used for school bags, sports bags, luggage etc.

The id labels and coded stickers protect the families privacy as they contain only the company name, a message that reads "If Found Call", a toll free number as well as the PIN code; this ensures the prompt and accurate identification of a child after a 1-800 number is called.

If anyone locates a lost child who is wearing the identification labels, a phone call is all it takes to identify the child and contact the parents.

Child ID Labels Inc.?s concept focuses on the fact that ?Children do not carry id, if they did they would likely loose it. We as adults never leave home without our id, frightening but true; there is more identification on the neighborhood dogs than on our children.

For pre-teens, the elderly who suffer from Alzheimer's as well as the intellectually challenged, the company also offers their version of a ?no name? label, which simply reads in bold letters ?If Found Call? and the same toll free number as well as the family's PIN code. When called, the 1-800 number links the caller to a monitoring service, which is staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The company's database contains the PIN codes assigned to families so there is no danger of anyone identifying the child except Child ID. One of the many advantages to this labelling system, is the labels can be as visible or invisible as the parents feel necessary.

The company recommends that for individuals who might be considered high flight risk, such as Autistic children or sufferers of Alzheimer's, the label should be placed in plain view. In one case the company has recovered a 21 year-old autistic man twice.

This program seems to have taken everything into account. For those parents who believe that prevention far outweighs the cure, it's nice to know that there is a company working to protect and keep our children safe.

Article Source : Guide To Step Parenting

About Author

Both Greg Chapman & Scott Irwin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Greg Chapman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Brakes, Cars and Air Filters. About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading has depended on since 1959. For more information please visit. Greg Chapman's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.

Scott Irwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Parenting and Family. Scott Irwin is the Marketing Director for Child ID Labels. Child ID Labels has been protecting North American children for more than 10 years. For more information on their unique proactive approach to