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| |    Child Passenger Safety Week Focuses on Booster Seats by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration While most parents know it's important to use child safety seats, many do not follow the four steps recommended for restraining children as they grow. Although motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children age 4 to 14, a third of all children in the U.S. age 14 and under are riding in the wrong restraint type for their age and size, according to a 2002 observational study conducted by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that parents follow the 4 Steps for Kids, a process that graduates a child from a rear-facing infant seat, to a forward-facing toddler seat, then to a booster seat, and finally to a seat belt. The step that parents most often miss is using a booster seat after a child has outgrown a forward-facing toddler seat. In fact, fewer than 6 percent of children who should be in a booster seat use one, according to NHTSA. Lap and shoulder belts are designed for an adult's body and do not protect young children in a crash. Moreover, a seat belt that doesn't fit right can cause serious injuries to a young child in a crash. A booster seat raises a child up so that the seat belt can fit properly Because 7 million children are in child care, during the upcoming national Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week (February 9-15), NHTSA and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign will reinforce the safety message by training child care providers nationwide about child passenger safety laws, child seat installation, and the importance of following the 4 Steps for Kids. They will use a curriculum developed by NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics. To help parents, NHTSA's Buckle Up America Campaign has developed several new materials for this year's CPS Week, including a booklet that details each of the 4 Steps for Kids and a brochure about buying and using booster seats. These materials may be available at your local police department, traffic safety or pediatrician's office. Or see them online at the NHTSA web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Need help with your child safety seat? Visit a child safety seat inspection station or a certified child passenger safety technician near you. To find one, go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps and click on the Child Safety Seat Inspections button or call the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). 4 Steps for Kids
For more detailed information about booster seats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, visit:
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