Motor vehicle accidents are a significant threat to children’s lives in the United States. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that tragic traffic incidents claimed the lives of approximately three children every day in 2016 across the nation. In Chicago, the Buckle Up program is dedicated to reversing this trend by actively working to decrease the number of child injuries and fatalities resulting from car crashes.
The core mission of the Buckle Up Child Passenger Safety program is to protect children in Chicago through comprehensive community education and by promoting crucial behavioral changes regarding car seat usage. This program stands out by offering a multi-faceted approach, including monthly car seat workshops, car seat inspection stations, and a committed network of over 15 community partners. Through these avenues, the Buckle Up program delivers essential car seat education, hands-on car seat installation assistance, and crucially, access to reduced-cost car seats for families who are at risk. This focus on accessibility is vital, ensuring that financial constraints do not compromise child safety.
Each year, the Buckle Up Program makes a significant impact by distributing over 1,000 reduced-cost car seats. Furthermore, they conduct more than 50 community workshops annually, directly reaching and educating parents and caregivers. It’s important to note that due to high demand, the availability of these reduced-cost car seats is currently limited. Families in need are encouraged to reach out and explore how the program can assist them in securing a safe car seat for their child.
Buckle Up Community Workshops: Learn and Save
Buckle Up Community Workshops provide invaluable free one-hour sessions led by nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. These workshops are designed to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge needed to choose the most appropriate child safety seat for their child. Participants also receive thorough instruction on the fundamental principles of proper car seat installation. An added benefit for families with an Illinois Medical Card is the opportunity to purchase reduced-cost car seats and booster seats upon advance registration for these workshops. This initiative directly addresses financial barriers to child passenger safety.
To get complete details about upcoming classes and to register your attendance, please get in touch with the Buckle Up program team at [email protected].
Buckle Up Inspection Stations: Personalized Car Seat Checks
Buckle Up Inspection Stations offer free, personalized 30-minute appointments where families can receive expert, one-on-one guidance from nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. During these sessions, technicians work directly with families to provide tailored instruction on the correct and consistent use of their child’s car seat. This hands-on approach ensures that parents and caregivers gain confidence and competence in securing their children safely for every journey.
For detailed information and to schedule your car seat inspection appointment, please contact the team at [email protected].
Car Seat Education Videos: Visual Guides to Safety
To further extend their educational reach, the Buckle Up program offers a series of informative car seat education videos. These videos serve as accessible resources for parents and caregivers seeking guidance at their convenience. One video provides 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 aligns with their specific needs, covering essential features like lower anchors, seat belts, and car seat compatibility with both the child and the vehicle.
Another video specifically delves into rear-facing only infant carriers. This video covers critical aspects such as the correct direction for car seat placement, the safest location for installation within the vehicle, step-by-step installation instructions, proper harnessing techniques, and guidance on transitioning to the next car seat stage as the child grows.
Expanding on rear-facing safety, a dedicated video focuses on rear-facing convertible car seats. Similar to the infant carrier video, it details the direction, location, installation, and harnessing specific to convertible seats used in the rear-facing position. It also provides essential information on when and how to transition as the child approaches car seat limits.
For parents transitioning to the next stage, a video on forward-facing car seats with harnesses is available. This resource thoroughly explains all types of forward-facing harnessed seats, again emphasizing direction, location, installation, and harnessing. It also clarifies when and how to move to a booster seat as the child grows taller and heavier.
Finally, a video dedicated to booster seats clarifies their role in child passenger safety. This video provides specifics about booster seats, including proper direction and installation. Crucially, it demonstrates how a seat belt should correctly fit a child using a booster and includes a seat belt fit test to help parents determine when their child is ready to transition from a booster seat to using a seat belt alone.
Don’t Leap Too Soon: Maximizing Car Seat Safety Duration
Illinois law is clear: children under 2 years old must be secured in a rear-facing car seat system, and children under 8 years old must be in an appropriate child safety restraint system. Adhering to these laws is the minimum requirement for child passenger safety.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) goes further, recommending that all infants and toddlers remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, specifically until they reach the maximum weight or height limit specified by their car seat manufacturer. For infants who outgrow their rear-facing only seat, a convertible seat installed rear-facing is the next step. Most convertible seats are designed to allow children to ride rear-facing for two years or even longer, maximizing safety during this vulnerable stage.
Reinforcing these guidelines, as of January 1, 2019, the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act mandates rear-facing car seats for all children under the age of 2, unless they weigh 40 pounds or more or are 40 or more inches tall. This law underscores the importance of extended rear-facing for optimal protection.
Car seat shells are engineered to absorb crash forces, and turning a child forward-facing prematurely increases the risk of head, neck, and spinal injuries. Delaying the switch to forward-facing is a critical safety measure.
Once children at least 2 years old exceed the rear-facing weight or height limits of their convertible seat, they should transition to a forward-facing seat with a harness. It’s vital to keep children in a forward-facing harness seat for as long as possible, again, up to the maximum weight or height limits indicated by the car seat manufacturer.
Each transition to a less restrictive car seat stage represents a reduction in protection. Booster seats bridge the gap, ensuring that an adult seat belt fits a child properly. Children should only move to a booster seat after outgrowing the height and weight limits of their forward-facing harness car seat.
Children should continue using a booster seat until they are ready for the vehicle seat belt alone. Readiness is determined when they are at least 4’9” tall and can sit correctly with the lap belt positioned low across their hips and the shoulder belt crossing their chest. Illinois law requires that children under 8 years old remain in a child safety restraint system, which includes booster seats when appropriate.
Finally, for optimal safety, children should ride in the back seat until at least age 12 and should always wear a seat belt, regardless of age or seating position.
Additional Car Seat Safety Tips and Resources
- Always register your car seat: Registering your safety seat with the manufacturer ensures you receive timely notifications of any recalls, crucial for maintaining safety.
- Check the expiration date: Never use a car seat that is more than six years old or has passed its expiration date, typically stamped on the seat. Materials degrade over time, reducing safety effectiveness.
- Replace after a crash: The NHTSA recommends car seat replacement after a moderate or severe crash to guarantee continued crash protection for child passengers, as structural integrity may be compromised.
- Exercise caution with used seats: Used car seats may not be safe unless you are completely certain of their history, and that all labels, parts, and instructions are present and intact. Unknown history can hide damage or missing components.
- Avoid bulky clothing: Bulky clothing, such as winter coats and snowsuits, can compress in a crash, loosening the harness straps and increasing injury risk. Dress children in thinner layers and place coats or blankets over buckled harnesses if extra warmth is needed.
For further child passenger safety advice and recommendations, please explore these valuable resources:
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
