Summertime in Tennessee means the kids are out of school, the weather is hot and families are traveling. It can also be a hectic and busy time of year, so it’s important to remember to be safe, especially when it comes to your kids and car seats.
Here are some tips to Keep Kids in Car Seats Safe This Summer:
- All Car Seats Are Not The Same. Make sure your child is in the correct car seat for their age and weight. Children under 2 years of age should ride rear-facing, and children over 2 should ride foward-facing in a car seat with harness until they reach the car seat manufacturer’s height and weight limit. The safest place for children under 13 is the backseat. Click on the link for complete guidelines from The American Academy of Pediatrics. If you are renting a car, it’s best to bring along your own car seat than to use one from the rental company. That way you know what you are getting and can feel confident that it is safe. Want to make sure your car seat is installed correctly? Click on this helpful link from safekids.org. After all, if your child’s car seat is not installed correctly, they may not be as protected as you think if an accident occurs.
- “But I’ll Only Be A Minute…” Never leave your child alone in the car — ever –even for a few minutes, with the windows rolled down or with the air conditioning on. If you see a child alone in a car, immediately call 911. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), a child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, and heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. What’s more, on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in as little as 10 minutes! (This goes for your pet too!)
- Check & Double-check. When exiting your vehicle, before you lock it up and walk away, the NHTSA recommends you make a habit of looking in the backseat to ensure that you leave nobody behind. You can even leave your purse or cell phone in the backseat each time you are in the car to ensure that you don’t leave your child behind. This is especially important when you are extremely busy, it’s hectic and/or you may be pre-occupied.
- Flying Objects. Secure anything in your vehicle that could end up being a projectile and harming someone if you were in an accident, like sporting equipment, strollers, purses, etc. Some SUV’s have netting in the cargo area that enables you to secure luggage. Also, use window clings instead of a roller shade or suction cups on your windows to keep the sun off of your child, as they can become projectiles as well. Allow your child to play with soft toys while traveling, so the toys don’t become a danger too.
Infiniti of Cool Springs offers a variety of New and Pre-owned vehicles at its Cool Springs location that will help keep your family comfortable and safe. Visit their showroom in person or see their vehicles online. Call today to make an appointment, 888-356-6427.
