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Car Seat Safety

Mentor Safety Village presents this safety information as another way of showing our commitment to reducing injuries and keeping the public up to date with the most current safety issues and information.

Facts About Car Seats

child restraints are tested for use in just one crash event. This means that if the vehicle is compromised in any way (with or without the child in it), owners are strongly suggested to replace it.

The purchase of a used seat is not recommended. Due to the previous concerns discussed about expiry dates, crash testing, and recalls, it is often impossible to determine the history of the child restraint if it is purchased second hand.

All child restraints have an expiration date, Most seats expire 6 years from the date of manufacture, although this can vary by manufacturer.

Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.

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State of Ohio Car Seat Law

Ohio law requires children between the ages of four and 15 to be properly restrained by either a child seat, booster seat, or safety seat any time they are being transported by a motor vehicle.

Children under age 12 should ride in the backseat to prevent airbag injuries and fatalities. The airbag deploys in an angle that will injure or kill a child, so if your child must ride in front, be sure you have an airbag turnoff switch.

Infant Carrier

For young infants, the seat used is an infant carrier with typical weight recommendations of 5-20 lb.
Infant carriers should be placed at no more a 45 degree angle, allowing appropriate neck and head support for the child.
Rear-facing seats are deemed the safest and children must remain in this position until at they are least 1 year of age AND at least 20 lb.

Child or Toddler Seat

many parents end up only using them in the forward-facing position
can only be used as a forward-facing car seat with a harness strap until a child is 40 to 80 pounds
Have the following types of harnesses:
- 5-point harness—attach at the shoulders, hips, and between the leg
- Overhead shield—a padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child
- T-shield—a padded t-shaped or triangle-shaped shield attached to the shoulder straps

Booster Seat

Booster seats are designed to raise the child up so that the lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly.
Booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt (never a lap-only belt). When using a booster seat, make sure
- The lap belt lies low and snug across your child’s upper thighs.
- The shoulder belt crosses the middle of your child’s chest and shoulder.

Straight From The Safety House

Starring: Dave Zalba

What To Look For

The 5-point harness usually gives the best fit and reduces the chance of ejection.

Wide, Twist-free straps. Reduces the area that restrains a child in a crash, and this can result in burns or more severe injuries.

Two-piece chest clips. These can also reduce strap twisting and are usually easier to use.

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is an attachment system that eliminates the need to use seat belts to secure the car safety seat. Vehicles with the LATCH system have anchors located in the back seat. Car safety seats that come with LATCH have attachments that fasten to these anchors. Nearly all passenger vehicles and all car safety seats made on or after September 1, 2002, come with LATCH. However, unless both your vehicle and the car safety seat have this anchor system, you will still need to use seat belts to install the car safety seat.

Infant Carriers with Bases. Most infant carriers come with bases that can be installed separately. The base is left in the vehicle, and the carrier is easily installed or removed from the base without taking the baby out of the harness.

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