Car safety tips for every parent

Q:

Every day there’s news of automobile accidents. I’m worried about my kids – how can I keep them safe while on the road?

A:

“Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among children 3 to 4 years old. The first step you can take in protecting your children in the car is to buckle them up. Riding unrestrained or improperly restrained in a car is the single greatest risk factor for death and injury for children,” says Kemba Black, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

“Always use a car safety seat for infants and young children. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat until 2 or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car safety seat manufacturer. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing height or weight limit, he or she should ride in a forward-facing car safety seat,” she says.

A child who has outgrown his or her car safety seat must ride in a booster seat until reaching 4 feet 9 inches tall and age 8 or older. It’s the law. Other car safety do’s and don’ts offered by Dr. Black include: • Never place rear-facing infant seats or children under the age of 13 in the front seat. • Always use an approved car seat and make sure it is compatible with your car. • Never leave your child alone in a

car, not even for a minute. • Do not take your child out of the car seat while the car’s engine is running or the car is parked where it could be struck by another vehicle. “Be a good role model for your child – always wear your seat belt,” reminds Dr. Black, who cares for children at Kelsey-Seybold’s Cypress Clinic.