Safe Kids Midlands

Safe Kids Midlands
Palmetto Health Richland
7 Richland Medical Park Drive
Suite #7186
Columbia, SC 29203
PHONE (803) 434-2955
FAX (803) 434-7379

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Child Passenger Safety

Child Passenger Safety - SC Law
Technicians
Buckle Buddies SC
Fitting Stations
General Passenger Safety
Infant Safety
Toddler Safety
Booster Seats
Seatbelts
Car Seat Class
Car Seat Purchasing Program
Just the Ticket
Fitting Stations
What is LATCH?
Car Seat Recalls
Check out more child passenger safety information

General Passenger Safety

What You Need to Know

Have your car seat checked by a nationally certified child passenger safety technician! Check out our Calendar of events for a seat check near you or visit one of the fitting stations in your area.

Always read you vehicle owners guide before installing a car seat in your car- the info in the child passenger safety section let�s you know what locations in the car are OK to use for car seats and what restraint is recommended based on the safety testing of that car.

Every person on every ride must use a car seat, booster seat or safety belt that's right for his or her weight and height.

All children under age 13 must ride in a back seat.

Know where the airbags are in your vehicles. They can be in the front seat, on the roofline or in a back seat. Some airbags can be turned off.

Follow manufacturers' instructions for car seats, booster seats and vehicle safety at all times.

Do not allow your child to ride in vehicles where drivers or passengers do not use safety restraints.

Don't share safety belts. Use one safety belt for each person in the car.

Weigh and measure children often to be sure they are using the right safety device.

Install car seats using a locked vehicle safety belt or LATCH system. Read and follow all labels and instructions.

Never use car seats purchased from yard sales, secondhand stores or flea markets.

Never let children ride on laps or in cargo areas or pickup truck beds.

Avoid using products that do not come with your child seat. They are not crash-tested and may not allow the harness to work properly.

Always Remember

Your child is counting on you to provide the best protection in a vehicle! Make sure your child always rides safely in your car, and prepare older children to "think safety" if they are ever in a car where no car seat or booster seat is available. Make sure children know how to protect themselves by sitting in a back seat and using a safety belt. Don't let your child become a statistic. For the best protection, use the right restraint for your child's age, weight and height. And remember to wear your seat belt on every ride too. Your child will do as you do!

Infant Safety

Safe Kids Midlands Recommendations

Keep children rear-facing until they max out the height or weight limit of their rear-facing seat. After the child grows out of the infant seat (generally 20-30 pounds) they need to be in a rear-facing convertible seat (generally rear-facing up to 35-45 pound). The child should remain rear-facing until they max out the height or weight limit (whichever comes first for the specific child) of their rear facing seat. The weight and height requirements are on the label of each seat and also in the manual.

What You Need to Know

Use a rear-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your baby rides in a car.

Use the right car seat for your baby's weight and height. Infants are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.

Use the car's safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety belt path or LATCH path to test it. Its OK for your rear-facing seat to move at the top of the seat, this allows the seat to absorb forces upon impact. DO NOT allow the top of your rear-facing seat to touch the front driver or passenger seat- allow at minimum 1 inch of space between the front seats and the rear-facing car seat.

Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the infant's shoulders. Be sure the harness is tight, so you can't pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.

Adjust the chest clip to armpit level.

Use your baby's car seat rear-facing and reclined no more than 45 degrees, so the baby's head stays in contact with the seat and the baby's airway stays open. Read the car seat instructions to learn how to recline the seat.

Check infant carrier seat height and weight limits. You will need to move to a rear-facing convertible seat when the child exceeds the infant carrier height or weight limit. (This usually happens BEFORE the child is 1 year old.)

Find where the frontal airbags are in your vehicle by checking the owner's manual. Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag.

Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.

* LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers For Children)*

When using the LATCH system:

Read your vehicle's owner's manual and car seat instructions to see if you can use LATCH.

Both LATCH and safety belts provide the same protection. Use one or the other, not both.

Next steps:

Take the next step to a forward-facing car seat when your child is at least one year old and they have out grown the height or weight limit of their convertible or rear facing seat.The AAP and Safe Kids recommends leaving your child rear facing as long as possible or their car seat will allow, up to 2 years of age. Having your child rear facing reduces the risk of head and neck injury in the event of a motor vehicle collision.

Toddler Safety

Safe Kids Midlands Recommendations

Children should only move to a forward-facing seat after they max out the height or weight limit of their rear-facing child safety seat. By South Carolina Law, this must be after the child weighs at least 20 pounds AND is 1 year old. Children should be in a forward-facing seat with harness up to at least 40 pounds, or as long as they are within the height and weight limit of their specific car seat. Some car seat models have weight limits up to 60-65 pounds. The Lower Anchors installed in most vehicles are only safety tested and recommended for us up to 44 pounds, so if you have a seat that goes beyond that, it needs to be installed using the seat belt.

What You Need to Know

Use a forward-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your toddler rides in a car.

Use the right car seat with a harness for your toddler's weight and height. Toddlers are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.

Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or above the child's shoulders. Some seats require use of the top slots when the seat is forward-facing, so check instructions.

Be sure the harness is tight, so you can't pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.

Use a top tether if your vehicle and car seat are both so equipped. Tethers limit the forward motion of your child's head in a crash. If you don't have them, contact your car dealer and car seat manufacturer.

Adjust the chest clip to armpit level.

A child is too big for the seat when the shoulders are above the top slots, the tops of the ears are above the back of the seat or the weight limit is exceeded. Move to a taller car seat or a booster seat. Many children will outgrow the harness of a forward-facing car seat at age 4 or 5.

Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.

* LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers For Children)*

When using the LATCH system:

Read your vehicle's owner's manual and car seat instructions to see if you can use LATCH.

Both LATCH and safety belts provide the same protection. Use one or the other, not both.

Next steps:

Use a forward-facing car seat (convertible or combo seat) until your child reaches the highest weight or heigh limit for their seat. The longer your child remains in a 5-point harness system, the safer they are in the event of a motor vehicle collision.

Booster Seats

Safe Kids Midlands Recommendations

Safe Kids Midlands recommends that children move into a booster after they exceed the height or weight limit of the forward-facing seat. Children should stay in their boosters until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh at least 80 pounds. Children should start with a high-back booster that moves the shoulder-belt into position on the body. Children can move to a low-back booster if the vehicle has proper head restraints and the shoulder-belt fits properly on the body.

What You Need to Know

40 to 80 or 100 pounds

Use a booster seat correctly in a back seat every time your child rides in a car.

Older kids get weighed and measured less often than babies, so check your child's growth a few times a year. Use a booster seat until your child weighs between 80 and 100 pounds, is about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and can pass the Safety Belt Fit Test. For most children, that will be between ages 8 and 12.

Tell all drivers who transport your child that a booster seat use is a must when your child is in their vehicle.

A booster seat uses no harness. It uses the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts only. Be sure the safety belt is properly buckled.

Booster seats are not installed tightly. They sit on the vehicle seat; the child buckles the lap and shoulder belt and wears the safety belt like you do. Never use only the lap belt.

Use the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts on every booster seat. Never place the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back.

When the booster seat is not is use, buckle it up so it cannot fly around the car if there was an accident.

Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.

Next steps:

Use a booster seat with the vehicle lap and shoulder safety belts until your child passes the Safety Belt Fit Test. Take the next step to the safety belt when you answer "yes" to these questions:

Does your child exceed the booster seat's height OR weight limits?
Does your child pass the Safety Belt Fit test?
Safety Belt Fit Test
1. Have your child sit all the way back on the vehicle seat. Do his or her knees bend at the front edge of the seat? If they bend naturally, go to #2. If they don't, return to the booster seat.
2. Buckle the lap and shoulder belt. Be sure the lap belt rests on the upper legs or hips. If it does, go to #3. If it rests on the stomach, return to the booster seat.
3. Be sure the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collarbone. If it does, go to #4. If it's on the face or neck, return to the booster seat. Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back.
4. Check whether your child maintains the correct seating position for as long as you are in the car. If your child slouches or shifts positions so the safety belt touches the face, neck or stomach, return your child to the booster seat.

Seat Belts

Safe Kids Midlands Recommendations

Safe Kids Midlands Recommends that everyone in the vehicle always wear a seat belt properly. The shoulder belt should rest on the collarbone or shoulder and the lap belt should rest on the upper legs or hips. Only use a lap-only belt as a last option. Never put the straps behind your body or arms.

Child Passenger Safety Class

Each month, Safe Kids Midlands conducts a Child Passenger Safety Class as part of the Buckle Buddies program. During this class, you'll learn general car seat information that is tailored to your needs while also having the opportunity to get hands-on experience installing your car seat. A Nationally Certified CPS Technician is always present and ready to check your car seat installation at the end of class on-site. The class is typically held the 4th Wednesday of every month at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, starting at 6:00pm and ending around 7:00pm. This class is FREE and open to the general public- please call 296-CARE to register.

Starting in 2012, this class will be offered 3 times per month. We will be adding classes in Lexington and Northeast Columbia each month. Visit our calendar to find the specific date and location of each class.

Starting in 2012, the Child Passenger Safety Class will serve as the education requirement needed to receive a discount on any new car seat purchased through the Stork's Landing Shoppe. Check out our Car Seat Purchasing Program or contact safekidsmidlands@gmail.com for more information or with any questions.

Car Seat Purchasing Program

Buckle Buddies SC is now offering new and safe car seats. They can be purchased at-cost at the Stork�s Landing Shoppe, 4th floor of Palmetto Health Richland. Educational discounts are available for attending a Child Passenger Safety Class, and for those showing financial need, additional discounts are available. The intention of this program is to make new and safe car seats accessible to all families in the Midlands. The program will increase the safe travel of children and reduce accidental injury or death.

This program is open to everyone in the community, which includes patients delivering at Palmetto Health hospitals. For car seat, pricing and discount details, please visit click here.

Buckle Buddies offers other assistance in child passenger safety, including free monthly child passenger safety classes and car seat check-ups. Nationally certified technicians are available on-site to assist parents or caregivers with car seat installation and usage, answering any questions they may have. All of these events are FREE and are designed to decrease the accidental injury or death in children.

Just the Ticket

Coming in 2012!!!