Please read this!!! Child car seats..

[C.Ann]

There was an awful accident in our area yesterday.. A car got a flat, swerved off the Thruway into the median and rolled over several times..

An 11-month old baby boy was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.. He was in a safety car seat - but it wasn't installed properly... One parent received minor injuries, the other wasn't injured at all..

Please check those seats!!! I went out and checked the one I have for my granddaughter as soon as I heard that on the news..

 

[cgcw]

How tragic.

A lot of police and fire stations will check to make sure that seats are installed. Our police department made sure that DS3's car seat was installed properly before he came home from the hospital. We have used this service many, many times over the years. Definately a case where an ounce of prevention goes a long way.

 

[Spinning]

My friends always get angry at me when I comment about their car seats not being secure correctly...or the kids strapes are super loose.
I usually reinstall my seat about every 2 months just to make sure it is tight.
That poor family. I can't even imagine the pain they are going through

 

[Kimberle]

I've always been extremely car seat safty "viligent". One of my biggest pet peeves is when people fail to use them correctly.

Many prayers for the family.

 

[mrsv98]

C. Ann, you are SO right. About a year and a half ago, we went to a Police sponsored safety check. I thought I was doing really well and was feeling a bit smug. Boy was I wrong! They pointed out some glaring errors and showed me how to install DD's seat properly. Now, it doesn't move a bit when I try and shift it. Also, our van is a '98 so it doesn't have the LATCH system, so I had my DUncle, a master mechanic, drill into the steel plate in the seat and attach the latch that came with DD's carseat. Now, the entire seat would have to come out before the carseat would move.

Here's another point, we were rear-ended in June and as part of the repairs, the other driver had to buy us a new carseat, regardless of the fact that the old one did not appear damaged. In Il, and other states I am sure, it is the law that carseats must be replaced after any accident to avoid failure from unseen damage.

I highly recommend going to a safety check, they are free and can save your child's life!

 

[Otto's Doll]

Another little bit of info... kids under 80lbs should be in carseats! My DD 8 is only 66 pounds, and she is in one I picked up at Walmart. It really just lifts her up a bit, so that the seat belt fits her properly. Worth the peace of mind!