Properly installed safety seats could be the difference between life and death for your child Published May 24, 2007 By By Staff Sgt. Darrell Leatherman 82nd Training Wing Safety Office SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Most parents want to do the right thing when it comes to those little bundles of joy. When it comes to car seat safety, a very common misconception is if it costs a lot of money, then it must be the best. That is not true. The right car seat for a sport utility vehicle might not work in a compact car. I recently went through a child safety seat certification course and I was shocked when I learned that 80 percent of parents install child seats improperly. The two most important things you can do when it comes to car seats are to read your owners manual and the instructions for the car seat. Here are some common questions regarding child safety seats. Q. What is the safest way to transport my child in a vehicle seat? Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat. Infants should ride in rear facing safety seats as long as possible; until they are at least 12 months old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Children who are at least 1-year-old, weigh 20-40 pounds and can no longer ride rear-facing should ride in forward facing child safety seats. Children over 40 pounds should be correctly secured in belt positioning boosters or other appropriate child restraints until the adult lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (around age 8). Once the vehicle safety belts fit children, both lap and shoulder belts should be correctly used. Any safety seat must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual. Q. Why do child safety seats need to be replaced after a crash? Crash forces can weaken or damage child safety seats, safety belts and other protective devices, making them less effective. This type of damage can even occur in minor crashes, even if it is not visible to the naked eye, and it can make the protection systems less effective. For this reason, manufacturer's state that child safety seats and safety belts involved in crashes must be replaced. If a restraint system has protected a passenger in a crash, it has already done its job. Many parents and caregivers are reluctant to replace safety devices after relatively minor crashes. At a minimum, we suggest contacting the manufacturer for advice. The manufacturer knows the product's capabilities and limitations, and may even be able to assist parents and caregivers with encouraging insurers to pay for a replacement. Q. We're considering buying a new car. Can you recommend a safe one? Cars have a wide variety of safety features, but all must meet minimum safety standards. If you are looking for comparative information on different vehicle models, you can look at the feature charts in Buying a Safer Car for Child Passengers by visiting www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Another source of information is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's crash test ratings at www.iihs.org. Q. Where can I receive more child safety seat information? There are several good resources available for additional and up-to-date information on properly restraining children: U.S. Department of Transportation Auto Safety Hotline 1-800-424-9393 American Academy of Pediatrics The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign Safe Kids Worldwide - Safe Kids Buckle Up Program 202-662-0600 Currently there are three certified child safety seat inspectors on Sheppard: Staff Sgt. Leatherman, Staff Sgt. Wendy Medley and Ms. Barbara Webb. For more information about child safety seats, call the wing safety office at 676-4149 or Barbara Webb at 676-2271. Information courtesy of Safe Kids World Wide