PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Buckle up your little ones!!

[hebbynan]

To the op, I too am so sorry you had to witness that preventable event. Why is it we can't remember what we want to, but the other things never go away. You mentioned that you call 911 whenever you see another child not in his seat. Not only do I see a ton of children on laps, but I have lost count on how many times the cops drive on by like they didn't see a thing. While I think parents should take care of their children, when they don't someone should step in, but not here.

My husband is a police officer. This is the one thing he can't stand. If you're driving with a child that is not restrained, get ready for a really FAT ticket! Anything he can nail you with he will, and that's in addition to the HUGE SPEACH you're going to get from him!! He often says how he wishes he could ticket people for stupidity! DS3 just learned how to undue his buckles and straps on his car seat. DH pulled the car over and gave him a stern talking too that deffinitely got my attention!! It is our job to protect our children. But remember....children will learn by example. So not only buckle up your children......buckle up yourselves!!!!!

 

[mareed]

I just have to say that I have personally driven by an accident scene with the body in the road covered with the white sheet. It is so sad how people can be attacked when they are trying to be helpful.

DH drove by an accident on his way home from work today and there was a body in a sheet. It was just past a merge point that we both drive by each day that I've thought is especially dangerous the way it's set right now due to construction. I'm seriously thinking about finding another way to get home.

 

[LilGMom]

As a former firefighter and first responder images like that do stick with you and I'm sorry you had to witness that. I can't begin to tell you, nor would I want to tell you, how many times I saw kids senselessly hurt in an accident because the adult they were with failed to properly buckle them up. It takes less time to buckle up a child than it does to order a cup of coffee in a drive-thru

I am an avid carseat enthusiast (my coworkers have always joked that I will keep my boys in five-point harnesses until they graduate high school, they are currently 5 & 1) and I will get on my phone to the police and follow someone when I see a child unrestrained. I have done that on the interstate and in town regardles if it makes me late for something.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Thank you for that terrible reminder of why it is so important to keep our children safe. Carseats will not prevent all deaths/injuries of children in accidents but it sure will decrease the number of them.

Whenever possible, it is safer if your children are rear-facing in the vehicle up to the weight limit of the seat. I see so many 1 year olds that have been turned forward facing and their spines are just not ready to support them in an accident. Most infant seats go to 22 lbs. or so rear facing and seats can be purchased that will rear face a child up to 35-38 lbs.

Please make sure your seats are properly restrained in the car. The seats should not move more than 1" at the belt path. Whether you use Latch or the seatbelts, please make sure it is in tight.

Also, something I had not thought of before, but please make sure your children fit your seat. My dd turned 3 in December and outgrew her seat that said up to 40 lbs. Yes, she was under 40 lbs. but she was too tall for the seat. The harness straps on a forward facing seat should be at or above the child's shoulders -- my daughter's shoulders were above the slots by about 1/2" -- if we were in an accident this could have caused a life-threatening injury. She is just too young/immature to be in a belt-positioning booster so we bought her new seats that harness up to 65 lbs. (or approximately 6 years old depending on height).

If your child is is a booster, make sure they sit upright all the time -- no leaning over to pick up stuff. If an accident occurs just at the moment they are not upright, then the seatbelt can't do what it's supposed to do.

No one wants their children to be injured or killed and we as parents/grandparents have the tools to keep them as safe as we can.

 

[mommytomy3]

I am going to get nailed big time for this comment but I have to say it. As a parent who has lost a child (not in a car accident) I know how blessed I am to have my 2 survivng children. I just don't understand how a parent can be so reckless with their childrens lives. They are a gift and a privelage and it gauls me at the sheer stupidity of parents who don't think they should need to put their children in a car seat and, just as importantly, a booster seat when they are 40lbs. or more. In my opinion parents who don't properly restrain their children in the car shouldn't be parents (this is where I am going to get nailed and I don't care)!!!!! Once you have lost a child you can never take their presence in your life for granted.

ITA!! I lost my son almost 5 years ago at 2.8 years old..... it gets me so angry when I see some parents act recklessly...