The Radnor Fire Company would like to provide families and expectant parents with information regarding car seat safety. While we don't provide this service at the fire station, we want to ensure we do our part in educating the community regarding this important issue.

Please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator at http://www.nhtsa.gov/apps/cps/index.htm to get your car set installed.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for all children. Child restraints, or car seats, reduce the risk of injury by 71% to 82% and reduce the risk of death by 28% in comparison to children in seat belts alone. Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45% among 4 to 8 year olds.

All vehicle occupants need to be properly restrained by seat belts or child safety seats to prevent injury in case of a sudden stop, swerve or crash. Seat belts and car seats contact the strongest parts of the body, spread crash forces over a wide area, help the body slow down and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Before you install your car seat, be sure to read both the car seat instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Also consider having an expert check the seat.

The best car seat is one that:

1. Fits your child;
2. Fits the vehicle;
3. And you will use correctly every trip!

Research tells us that safety belts and car seats are the most effective devices in preventing serious injuries and deaths in vehicle crashes. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws that require child seat use; however, numerous gaps and inconsistencies exist. AAA believes that closing loopholes in existing state laws and educating the public about proper car seat and restraint use are essential to preventing child passenger injuries and deaths

Source: AAA Exchange