It's a shocking statistic: four of out every five car seats are incorrectly installed, putting children at risk of injury or even death.
Fortunately, free car-seat inspections are available at any CHP office in San Diego County.
KUSI's Aimee Fuller spoke with CHIP's star Erik Estrada about the program.
PRESS RELEASE:
National Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 12-18, is the perfect reminder to say "I love you" to your tiniest valentines by making sure they are properly buckled up each time they ride in a motor vehicle. This year, 21st Century Insurance celebrates the Week by providing 21 top child safety seat tips to help keep young passengers safe and sponsoring a child safety seat inspection and installation fair in National City on Feb. 18.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children ages two to 14. But children ages four to eight who use booster seats and safety belts correctly are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a motor vehicle crash than children who are restrained only by a safety belt. In addition, more than 80 percent of child restraints are used incorrectly, according to NHTSA.
To help reduce preventable injuries and deaths, 21st Century Insurance premiered its child safety seat initiative in California five years ago. Since then, more than 7,000 child safety seats have been inspected throughout six states; 21st has donated more than 5,500 new child safety seats; and more than 2,500 broken, recalled or non-age-appropriate child safety seats have been collected and discarded.
"21st Century Insurance is committed to educating parents on the importance of properly installing and using child safety seat restraints, and we encourage parents and their children to abide by the passenger restraint laws," said Joyce Prager, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, 21st Century Insurance. "We're proud of our partnership with the CHP because it saves lives."
To cap off National Child Passenger Safety Week, 21st will bring its successful safety campaign to the Wal-Mart in National City CA from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. CHP officers will inspect and if necessary, install child safety seats donated to local families by 21st. Safety spokesperson Erik Estrada will also be on hand to deliver the safety message and sign autographs. Wal-Mart is located at 1200 Highland Avenue. For more information, visit www.21st.com/safety.
Throughout the week, 21st will also sponsor child safety seat inspections at CHP offices throughout the Los Angeles area for the 21 winners of the company's LA Auto Show raffle in January. If necessary during the inspection, CHP officers will install a brand-new child safety seat donated by 21st.
21st marks National Child Passenger Safety Week (February 12-18) by offering these 21 tips to help keep young passengers safe:
Top Ten Do's for Child Passenger Safety:
1. Always use a child safety seat. Start with your new baby's ride home from the hospital.
2. Pick the right seat. Make sure you use the correct type of seat for your child's age and weight.
3. Read the directions. All car seats must be installed and used properly. Read the owners manual to the seat and your car.
4. Register your seat. Complete the registration card for your new seat so you will be alerted by the manufacturer to problems and recalls.
5. Remember that babies need more support. Use a rear-facing seat for babies up to 22 lbs. that offers additional head and neck support.
6. Use a booster seat. Children ages four to eight years old should be restrained in a booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
7. Use harnesses correctly. Make sure harnesses are in slots at or below the shoulders for rear-facing seats or at or above the shoulders for forward facing. Harnesses should lie in a snug, straight line across the child.
8. Know the law. California law states that children must be secured in the back seat of a vehicle until they are either six years old or 60 pounds. Additionally, a child may not ride in the front seat of a motor vehicle with an active passenger bag if the child is under one year of age, weighs less than 20 pounds or is riding rear-facing in a child passenger restraint system.
9. Ask the experts. Learn how to correctly install and use your seat by attending a local passenger safety clinic.
10. Check out these resources. For more information, call: 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or go to: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Top Ten Don'ts for Child Passenger Safety:
1. Don't use a second-hand safety seat or one that has been in a collision.
2. Don't use a seat that has been recalled.
3. Don't use a household baby carrier as a safety or booster seat.
4. Don't use a safety or booster seat that is more than six years old.
5. Don't bundle up the child before placing him in the seat. Secure the harness first, and then place coats and blankets over the seat.
6. Don't place a rear-facing seat on the front seat of a vehicle with an active air bag.
7. Don't place books or blankets under the child as boosters. Use the correct seat for the child's height and weight.
8. Don't use more than one seat belt at a time to install a seat.
9. Don't use a lap-only seat belt to secure a booster seat.
10. NEVER let a child ride on a passenger's lap. All children should be safely secured in the correct type of safety or booster seat at all times.
And number 21 - indeed, the most important tip to remember: All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat!
To help inform the public, in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol and 21st, "Child Safety Seats: A Parent's Guide" was created to explain proper seat installation and use. The guide, available for free in English or Spanish, can be obtained at safety fairs and directly from 21st by calling 1-800-211-SAVE or by visiting www.21st.com/safety.
SOURCE: 21st Century Insurance Group
