Types of Child Restraint Systems Infant OnlyConvertibleCombination Booster

2 - Convertible Seats 5 Point Harness T-Shield Tray Shield Convertible Seats convert from Rear-facing to Forward-facing

Video: Joel’s Journey

2 – Convertibles (Rear-facing) Best practice is to keep children rear-facing until the rear-facing maximum of the convertible seat AAP recommends – Children should be rear facing until they are 2 years old Current RF convertible seats go to 30/35 lbs RF. AAP = American Academy of Pediatrics

2 – Convertibles (Rear-facing) Use a 5 point harness Install semi-reclined around 45 degrees Always read the owner’s manual

2 – Convertibles (Forward-facing) When to Transition to Forward Facing:  When children have reached rear facing maximum and at least 2 year old  Child’s weight exceeds limits of rear- facing seat – 30/35 lbs.  Child’s height exceeds limits of seat (One inch of space is needed from top of child’s head to top of shell when rear facing)

Types of Child Restraint Systems Infant OnlyConvertibleCombination Booster

2. Combination Seat Forward facing only (higher top harness slot) After 40 lbs.* harness is removed; use as belt positioning booster *Some newer seats have higher harness weights

Types of Child Restraint Systems Infant OnlyConvertibleCombination Booster

Booster Seats Two types: 1. High Back (used when there is no head restraint on vehicle seat) 2. Backless Boosters are for children: Mature enough to sit still in lap/shoulder belt Usually 4 years of age and over 40 lbs.

Booster Seat 4 to 8+ years old and under 4’9” Boosters must be used with a lap and shoulder belt! Maximum weight is normally 80/100 lbs. (some go to more than 100) BEST PRACTICE is to keep child in a 5 point harness until 40 lbs.

Alternatives for Boosters for Children over 40 Pounds Convertible seats that go to lbs forward facing Combination seats that go to lbs. and then become booster seats Forward facing seats that go up to 105 lbs. but do not become boosters Vests that go to 168 lbs. See handout on higher weight seats Graco Nautilus 20 to 65 lbs. 5-point harness 30 to 100 lbs. High-back booster 40 to 100 lbs. Backless booster

Solutions for Vehicles with Lap Belts Only Vests are available that can go up to 168 lbs. Many vests can be used with lap only belts (may also need tether) E-Z-On Travel Vest RideSafer Travel Vest E-Z-On Vest RideSafer Travel Vest

Transition to Lap/Shoulder Belt Seat Belt Test Buckle your child into a lap/shoulder belt and try this test: 1. Does he/she sit all the way back against the seat? 2. Do his/her knees bend easily at the edge of the seat? 3. Does the shoulder belt cross over the center of the shoulder and chest? 4. Is the lap belt low, across the tops of the thighs? 5. Can he/she stay seated like this for the entire trip? If you answered NO to any of these questions, your child needs to remain in a booster seat.

Helping Children Become Lifelong Seat Belt Users SAFETY It’s my job to keep you safe. Wearing my seat belt keeps me safe. I may be a good driver, but there are plenty of people who are not. IT’S THE LAW It’s the law in our State that everyone must wear a seat belt or be in a safety seat. I am responsible for the people in my car. I do not want to get a ticket because someone is not obeying the law. FAMILY RULES It’s a family rule. I will not discuss it. I will not start the car until everyone is wearing a seat belt or is in their safety seat. If you take your belt off or get out of your seat, I will stop the car. KEEP IN MIND… Children’s use of seat belts drops by 36 percentage points when adults don’t wear seat belts.

Examples of Misuse INCORRECT CORRECT

Correct or Incorrect?

Examples of Misuse

Distracted Driving “Driver distraction is a diversion of attention away from activities critical for safe driving toward a competing activity”. - Regan, Lee, and Young (2009)

Types of Distraction Visual Manual Cognitive Eyes off the road Mind off of driving Hands off the wheel

Distracted Driving - Prevalence In 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving (FARS and GES). May 2012: Nearly 70% of drivers reported talking on their cellphone while driving, and more than 30% admitted to reading a text or while driving in the past month. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) May 2012: Nearly 70% of drivers reported talking on their cellphone while driving, and more than 30% admitted to reading a text or while driving in the past month. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) In 2011, the average number of text messages sent in the U.S. per day was 6.6 billion. (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) In 2011, the average number of text messages sent in the U.S. per day was 6.6 billion. (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association)

Distracted Driving - Risk Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Monash University) Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Monash University) Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of.08 percent. (University of Utah) Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of.08 percent. (University of Utah) Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon) Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon) Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. (VTTI) Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. (VTTI) Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI) Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI)

Keeping Kids Safe – Inside and Out 1. Backovers 2. Hyperthermia 3. Injuries from power windows 4. Vehicle rollaways 5. Trunk entrapment 6. Seat belt entanglement

Children at Risk for Backovers According to KidsandCars.org there are 50 children backed over each week – 48 are injured and 2 die. Blind spots are the main reasons for backovers.

Children at Risk from Hyperthermia Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. In just 10 minutes, temperatures can increase almost 20 degrees. A child’s body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. In more than half of the cases, the child was ‘forgotten’ by the care giver.

Trunk Entrapment Trunk entrapment occurs when the children inadvertently lock themselves in the trunk of a vehicle.

Children at Risk in Cars with Engine Running Children left alone in a vehicle with the engine running can accidently or deliberately set the vehicle in motion. An unbelted child in a moving vehicle is also at great risk of injury. Power windows can be activated and pose a great danger for children.

Resources Online course available: Transporting Children Safely in Child Care at: 2 clock hours Meets new requirements for 2 additional hours of transportation safety Locate a technician Free Car Seats for families with low income Safe

Resources Child Restraint Recall List: Texas Department of Transportation – Traffic Safety Specialists: Lubbock area – Karen Peoples Amarillo area – Tracy Tellman Special Needs Child Passenger Safety Technician: Lubbock area – Dena Fant Amarillo area – Andrea Ewing

Thank you! Jolie Person Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician DSHS - Canyon

Additional Slides (optional): Quick review of each child restraint