By Office Joanna Robertson
PIO, Bethany Beach Police Dept.

Fortunately, the technology is going forward and our kids’ safety improves every day. There are various sources for parents or caregivers that help properly use child restraints, “education” being the key word. When you add to that the child restraint law, the number of secured kids increases. The question is, are they properly restrained?

Many informal checkup events held across the US consistently record 90 to 99 percent incorrect use rates (Delaware having 79 percent misuse). Despite the high rate of misuse, child restraints have still been very effective in injury and fatality reduction.

There are many reasons why those statistics are so high. The fact that we have various combinations of child restraints and the instructions are frequently complicated, cause many caregivers to simply not follow the installation steps. In addition, there is a tremendous consumer lack of understanding of crash dynamics. Parents often do not realize the importance of proper positioning before the crash and how child restraint systems and seatbelt systems are designed to work in emergency situations.

If you are one of the parents who care about their child’s safety and have questions or concerns about the type of restraint your child should be put in, do not hesitate to seek answers. Contact any certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, go to a Web site or call any police department. There are various traffic safety programs that organize child safety checkpoints throughout the state. There will be a Child Restraint System Checkup Event held at the C.P. Diver GM Dealership on Highway One in Lewes, on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. Stop by and have it checked.

Here are some important tips to remember:

Infant Safety Seats (infant only or rear facing convertible seats)
1. Child must be rear-facing until 1 year old and 20 pounds.
2. Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an air bag.
3. Keep child safety seat at a 45-degree angle to ensure proper breathing for the child.
4. Do not attach additional padding or dangling toys to the safety seat.
5. Some seats will accommodate children up to 32+ pounds, rear facing — be sure to read manufacturers instructions!
6. Use lowest harness strap position.
7. After reaching 1 year old and 20 pounds, turn child forward facing (see below).

Convertible Safety Seats (convertible seat or forward facing only seat)
1. Forward-facing for children 21 to 40+ pounds.
2. Be sure harness straps are snug against the child. Be sure plastic retainer clip is at armpit level and it is threaded properly.
3. Use harness strap position above the child’s shoulders at the highest position.
4. Once child outgrows the convertible seat, move him/her into a booster seat (see below).

Booster Seat (shield booster or high back booster)
1. High back booster is safer than the shield booster.
2. Use high back booster seat for children 30 60/80 pounds, depending on the seat.
3. Use high back booster seat with harness up to 40 pounds. Then remove the harness and use booster seat with seatbelt to protect child up to 60/80 pounds.

Remember! Seatbelts are designed to fit adults. Keep children in car seats until the seatbelt fits properly, as follows: the shoulder strap lays across shoulder bone, not neck, and flat across chest; the lap portion should be snug across hips, not stomach.

Child Restraint Law
1. Children from birth through age 6 or 60 pounds must be properly secured according to manufacturer’s instructions in a child safety seat or booster seat while riding in a motor vehicle.
2. Children from age 7 or 60 pounds up to age 16 must be properly restrained in a seatbelt.
3. This is a primary offense — you can be stopped and fined $25 for this violation.
4. No child under 65 inches in height and under 12 years of age shall occupy the front passenger seat of any vehicle equipped with a passenger side air bag. This portion of the section is a secondary violation.

Parents, give a good example to your kids and wear your seatbelt!

Child Restraint System Checkup Event this Saturday, Feb. 19 at C.P. Diver GM Dealership, Highway One, Lewes, at 2 p.m. Bethany Beach Police Department will be there with other technicians to help you keep your child safe.