According to the Centers for Disease Control, traffic crashes are the number one killer of young children. In 2002, 2,542 children ages 15 and younger died in car crashes; another 294,000 were injured. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show nearly half of the deaths and injuries occurred because the children were not properly restrained.
One of the biggest problems were seeing is that parents graduate their children from car seats to seatbelts when they should really be in booster seats, says Elly Martin, who is a spokesperson for the NHTSA. Weve also seen a number of cases where children who are in car seats are not very well secured.
Every state requires that infants and children ride buckled up. However, state laws do not always require the safest way to transport a child. So what is the safest way? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants always ride in the back seat -- in car seats that can only be used rear-facing until they are at least a year old and 20 pounds.
One of the biggest mistakes weve seen parents make is switching their child to a forward facing car seat too soon. Just because your baby has turned a year old or is over 20 pounds doesnt mean theyre ready. They must achieve both milestones before the switch is made, says Jeff Beyer, senior vice president and chief communications officer of Farmers Insurance.
There are a number of car seats on the market that are considered safe for babies at the in-between stage. So-called convertible car seats can be used as rear facing until the child is up to 35 pounds, or forward facing until they are around 40 pounds. They typically come with three different types of restraints: 5-point harness, T-shield, and overhead shield.
When your child reaches the top weight or height allowed for his or her car seat, that doesnt mean its time for them to switch over to a regular seatbelt. At 3 or 4 years of age, most children are still too short to be safely secured by a seatbelt. If they are not at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, they need the added protection of a booster seat, says Beyer.
* Making Sure Seats are Safely Secured
Pediatricians have done a good job spreading the word about the Academys recommendations, and the statistics show parents are listening. The number of fatal accidents involving children dropped from 2,603 in 2001 to 2,542 in 2002.
We are very heartened by improvements in child safety seat use by Americans; however, there is still room for improvement if every child is to travel safely on our roadways, says Martin.
Despite their best intentions, parents dont always install the seats properly, says Beyer. In the New Parents section of its Web site, Farmers Insurance has numerous tips regarding the proper installation of car seats.
Infant Seats
* Must be used in a rear facing position until child is at least 12 months old and weighs at least 20 pounds
* Never place this type of seat in front of an airbag. The preferred location is in the back seat in the middle of the car.
* Never hold your baby in your lap when the vehicle is in motion.
* Your childs head should be at least 1 inch below the top of the child seat.
* Rear facing infant seats reduce the risk of fatal injury in a car crash by 71 percent.
Toddler Seats
* Should be in the forward facing position for children between 20 and 40 pounds and over 1 year of age.
* When using the seat in a forward-facing position, always use the highest of the three sets of slots provided with this seat for the harness.
* If using this seat in a rear-facing position, the harness should come out of the center or lowest slots.
* The harness should fit snugly with room for no more than one finger between the harness and your childs collarbone.
* Forward-facing safety seats for toddlers reduce the fatality risk by 54 percent.
Booster Seats
* Use forward facing only.
* High-back booster with built-in harness: for children between 30 and 40 pounds. Harness should be replaced by adult lap and shoulder belt when child reaches 40 pounds.
* Belt positioning booster seats: for children between 40 and 80 pounds and up to four feet nine inches. Never use with only the lap belt -- use with shoulder and adult lap belt together. Shoulder belt should cross chest, never over stomach. Make sure belt fastens without extra slack.
Another common mistake parents can make is not properly securing the seat itself in their vehicle. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 seats on American roads are improperly installed. Seat Check, a national organization that works with Toys R Us, the NHTSA, and several other sponsors holds regular free inspection clinics that can give parents piece of mind.
To find a child seat inspection station in your area, log onto www.seatcheck.org, or call (866) SEATCHECK. You can find car seat installation and other child safety advice on the Farmers Insurance Web site: www.farmers.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
Entertaining suggestions for busy momsNC(NC)Doctor, arbiter, coach, chauffeur, entertainer, cook it's Mom! Every mother knows it's a juggling act to get through the daily routine and still find some time to sleep much less entertain. So what does Mom do when company is knocking at the door? Whether it's a casual midweek dinner, a large weekend gathering or a few friends gathering to talk to about the day, entertaining can be a stressful time for most moms with everything else on their plate. Hamilton Beach, makers of quality small appliances, offers the following suggestions for busy moms this holiday season.
1) Prepare dishes that can be frozen ahead of time and then warmed up the day or night of your party.
2) Keep it casual - serve buffet style so you sit down faster and everyone can choose what they like best.
3) Use appliances that keep your hands free for little ones put a pot roast with potatoes and carrots in your slowcooker and you have the whole day for your usual routine. Just before guests arrive put a couple of small pizzas in your toaster oven for picky eaters (all kids love pizza). Ice cream and coffee for dessert what could be easier. The Hamilton Beach BrewstationTM lets you dispense coffee with one hand and the coffee stays hot in the thermal dispenser in case the party continues later than expected.
4) Remember to include the kids in the planning. Create a theme and let the kids help you plan the menu make it fun for everyone and it won't be as much work.
For great recipes and great products visit www.hamiltonbeach.com.
- News Canada
About the author:
News Canada
Holiday gift ideas for that person on your list who has everything!NC(NC)Who's the person in your life that has everything your aunt, your mom and dad, your boss? Holiday shopping for that person can be a stressful event, especially around the holiday season. If you're tired of not knowing what gifts to get your friends and family for the holiday, let Dirt Devil help you find the right present for the right person, every time. Dirt Devil has new, unique and affordable gift items that are sure to be used and appreciated all year long.
Under $60
The perfect gift for that person who's always on the fast track is the Dirt Devil Sweeper VacTM with Swiffer. The new Sweeper Vac with Swiffer combines two innovative technologies: the popular Swiffer and a powerful cordless vacuum from Dirt Devil. The Swiffer electrostatic cloth captures the small stuff like dust, allergens, and pet hair while the powerful Dirt Devil vacuum gets all the bigger dirt and debris. No more brooms and dustpans because it gets the line of dirt that other more conventional tools leave behind. Plus, its unique swivel head design makes it easy to get into tight spots including along baseboards, under tables, in corners, and around toilets. A great gift for around $59.99.
Under $70
Looking for the perfect gift for the family with kids, pets, and therefore inevitable messes? With the kids home from school for the holidays, you might find that your floors need to be cleaned more frequently. An ideal gift for quick pick-ups in between regular cleaning is the new Power Stick from Dirt Devil. Cleaning hard floor surfaces in the past has been bothersome with other less effective or hard-to-manage stick vacs. However, the new Power Stick boasts 12 amps and 1440 watts of pure cleaning power- that's 1.5 times the power of any other stick vac on the market. Better yet, it weighs in at only 6 pounds! With a sturdy, lightweight design, the Power Stick is ideal for cleaning all hard floor surfaces, including hardwood, tile, marble and linoleum. And it's available for under $70.
- News Canada
About the author:
News Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment