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Child Safety Seats: Little Errors Mean Big Risks

More Texans are buckling up their seat belts and putting their children in safety seats, but recent safety seat check-up events sponsored by the Texas Department of Health show that nine out of 10 safety seats are being used incorrectly.

Parents can inform themselves about safety seats and protect their children by following these guidelines:

  • Read the instructions that come with the safety seat and consult the vehicle owner's manual for proper installation techniques;

  • Buy a safety seat that is compatible with the car or truck you drive and exchange it if it is not;

  • Send in the registration card when you buy a safety seat so that you are notified in the event of a recall;

  • Dispose of any seats that are more than 10 years old;

  • Avoid used safety seats unless you know their history. Replace seats that have been in a traffic crash;

  • Never place an infant in the front seat of cars with passenger air bags;

  • And all children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat if the car has a passenger air bag.

Call Safe Riders at 1-800-252-8255 for information and materials or to schedule a safety checkup for your community.

- From the Texas Department of Health

Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News
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