Motor vehicle accidents are a significant threat to children’s lives in the United States. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that tragically, approximately three children died every day in traffic crashes across the US in 2016 alone. In Chicago, the Car Seat Program Chicago, known as Buckle Up, is dedicated to reversing this alarming trend.
The Buckle Up Child Passenger Safety program is a vital initiative designed to dramatically reduce child injuries and fatalities from car accidents in Chicago. This car seat program chicago achieves its mission through comprehensive community education and by fostering crucial behavior changes among parents and caregivers. Offering monthly car seat workshops, convenient car seat inspection stations, and a strong network of over 15 community partners, the Buckle Up program is a cornerstone of child safety in the city. They provide essential car seat education, hands-on car seat installation assistance, and crucially, access to reduced-cost car seats for families who need them most.
Each year, this impactful car seat program chicago distributes over 1,000 reduced-cost car seats and conducts more than 50 community workshops. The demand for their services is high, and currently, reduced-cost car seats are available in limited quantities, highlighting the ongoing need for support and resources for this essential program.
Buckle Up Community Workshops: Learn to Protect Your Child
These invaluable free one-hour classes are led by nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Participants in these car seat program chicago workshops gain critical knowledge to confidently choose the right car safety seat for their child. They also learn the fundamental techniques for correct car seat installation, ensuring maximum safety on every journey. For parents and caregivers with an Illinois Medical Card, registering in advance for these workshops unlocks the opportunity to purchase reduced-cost car seats and booster seats, making safety accessible to more families.
For complete class information and to register for a workshop near you, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Buckle Up Inspection Stations: Personalized Car Seat Safety Checks
The car seat program chicago also provides free 30-minute inspection appointments at their inspection stations. Here, nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians offer personalized, one-on-one guidance to families. They provide expert instruction on the proper use of their child’s specific car seat, addressing individual needs and concerns to ensure optimal safety.
For detailed information and to schedule your car seat inspection appointment, please contact us at [email protected].
Car Seat Education Videos: Visual Guides to Child Passenger Safety
To further extend their reach and impact, the car seat program chicago provides a series of informative car seat education videos. This video, for example, offers a comprehensive overview of the different types of car seats available on the market. It guides viewers through the process of selecting a car seat that perfectly matches their family’s needs and delves into important specifics such as lower anchors and seat belts, and ensuring car seat compatibility with both the child and vehicle.
Another video in the car seat program chicago’s educational series focuses specifically on rear-facing only infant carriers. This video provides crucial details about the direction a car seat should face, the safest location for car seat installation in the vehicle, correct installation techniques, proper harnessing, and clear guidance on when and how to transition to the next stage as a child grows.
Expanding on rear-facing safety, this video from the car seat program chicago explains rear-facing convertible car seats in detail. Similar to the infant carrier video, it covers the direction the seat should face, optimal vehicle location, installation steps, harnessing techniques, and what to do when a child outgrows this type of seat.
For older children, the car seat program chicago offers a video dedicated to forward-facing harnessed car seats. This resource clarifies the direction these seats should face, ideal placement within the car, installation procedures, harnessing guidelines, and the transition to booster seats once a child reaches the height or weight limit.
Finally, the car seat program chicago provides a video explaining booster seats and proper seat belt use for older children. This video covers booster seat direction, installation, how a seat belt should correctly fit a child using a booster, and importantly, the transition from booster seats to regular seat belts, including the crucial seat belt fit test to ensure a child is ready.
Don’t Leap Too Soon, Maximize Car Seat Safety
Illinois law mandates that all children under 2 years old must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system, and children under 8 years old must be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint system. The car seat program chicago strongly emphasizes adhering to and exceeding these legal requirements for optimal child safety.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) goes even further, recommending that all infants and toddlers remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, until they reach the maximum weight or height limit specified by their car seat manufacturer. When rear-facing only infant seats are outgrown, the AAP recommends transitioning to a convertible seat installed rear-facing. Most convertible seats are designed to accommodate rear-facing children for two years or more, providing extended protection.
As of January 1, 2019, the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act specifically requires rear-facing car seats for children under 2 unless they weigh 40 pounds or more or are 40 inches or taller. However, the car seat program chicago advocates for prioritizing safety over these minimums.
Car seat shells are engineered to absorb crash forces. Turning a child forward-facing prematurely significantly increases the risk of head, neck, and spinal injuries in a crash. Therefore, the car seat program chicago urges parents to delay this transition as long as possible.
Children who are at least 2 years old and have outgrown the rear-facing limits of their convertible seat should then use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, again, up to the maximum weight or height specified by the car seat manufacturer.
It’s crucial to understand that with each transition to a less restrictive car seat type, children lose a degree of protection. Booster seats are designed to properly position an adult seat belt on a child. The car seat program chicago advises waiting until children have exceeded the height and weight limits of their forward-facing harness car seat before moving to a booster seat.
Children should continue using a booster seat until they are ready for the vehicle seat belt alone. Readiness is defined as being 4’9” tall and able to sit correctly with the lap belt low across their hips and the shoulder belt across their chest. Remember, Illinois law requires booster seats or car seats for all children under 8.
Finally, the car seat program chicago and safety experts universally recommend that children ride in the back seat until at least age 12 and always wear a seat belt, regardless of age or seating position.
Additional Tips and Resources for Car Seat Safety
The car seat program chicago provides these crucial additional car seat safety tips:
- Always register your car seat with the manufacturer to receive recall notifications, ensuring your child’s seat remains safe and up-to-date.
- Never use a car seat that is older than six years or has passed its expiration date, as materials degrade over time, reducing safety.
- The NHTSA recommends car seat replacement after any moderate or severe crash to guarantee continued crash protection for child passengers.
- Exercise extreme caution with used car seats. Their safety is only assured if you know the seat’s history, and all original labels, parts, and instructions are present and intact. When in doubt, utilize the resources of the car seat program chicago for guidance.
- Avoid bulky clothing like winter coats and snowsuits when securing children in car seats. These can compress in a crash, creating slack in the harness straps and significantly increasing injury risk. Dress children in thinner layers and place coats or blankets over the buckled harness if needed for warmth.
For more comprehensive child passenger safety advice and recommendations, please explore these valuable resources, also endorsed by the car seat program chicago:
American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org
Illinois Department of Transportation BuckleUpIllinois.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA.gov
Office of the Illinois Secretary of State CyberDriveIllinois.com
Safe Kids Worldwide SafeKids.org
