Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 in the United States? In 2013, a child under 13 was involved in a crash every 33 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week, September 13-19, 2015, is to encourage parents and caregivers to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to determine if their child is in the right seat for his or her age and size and to locate a car seat inspection event in their area. Additionally, parents and caregivers are urged to register their child's car seat with the manufacturer so they will be informed in the event of a recall.

NHTSA has estimated that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants (younger than 1 year old) and by 54% percent for toddlers (ages 1 to 4 years) in passenger cars. For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the corresponding reductions are 58% and 59%, respectively.

Among children under age 5, an estimated 263 lives were saved in 2013 by restraint use. Of these 263 lives saved, 246 were associated with the use of child safety seats and 17 with the use of adult seat belts. At 100% child safety seat use for children under age 5, an estimated 319 (that is, an additional 56) lives could have been saved in 2013.

infant car seat installationChild safety expert Kimberlee Mitchell, left, installs a car seat for Kennedy Word, 8 months, as mom Kimberly St. Louis looks on during a car seat check hosted by Dorel Juvenile Group, AAA, and the New York City Department of Transportation in New York. (David Goldman/AP Images for Dorel Juvenile Group)

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), it is very common to use a car seat incorrectly. Here are 10 tips for using a child car seat correctly.

    1. Never put an infant in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger air bag.
    2. Route harness straps in lower slots at or below shoulder level.
    3. Keep harness straps snug and fasten the clip at armpit level.
    4. Make sure the straps lie flat and are not twisted.
    5. Dress your baby in clothes that allow the straps to go between the legs. Adjust the straps to allow for the thickness of your child's clothes. Do not use bulky clothes that could increase slack in a crash.
    6. To keep your newborn from slouching, pad the sides of the seat and between the child's legs with rolled up up diapers or receiving blankets.
    7. Put the car seat carrying handle down when in the car.
    8. Infants must ride in the back seat facing the rear of the car. This offers the best protection for your infant's neck.
    9. Recline the rear-facing seat at a 45-degree angle. If your child's head flops forward, the seat may not have reclined enough. Tilt the seat back until it is level by wedging firm padding such as a rolled towel, under the front of the base of the seat.
    10. All new car seats are now required to come equipped with top tether straps. A tether strap is a belt that is attached to the car seat and bolted to the window ledge or the floor of the car. They give extra protection and keep the car seat from being thrown forward in a crash. Tether kits are also available for most older car seats. Check with the manufacturer to find out how to get a top tether for your seat. Install it according to instructions. The tether strap may help make some seats that are difficult to install fit more tightly.

woman getting ready to install a child car seat(Photo: Shutterstock)

Also important, do not use a car seat if any of the following issues are present:

    1. It is too old. Look on the label for the date it was made. If made before January 1981, the seat may not meet strict safety standards and its parts are too old to be safe. Some manufacturers recommend using seats for only 6 years.
    2. It does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these, you cannot check on recalls.
    3. It has been in a crash. If so, it may have been weakened and should not be used, even if it looks all right.
    4. It does not come with instructions. You need the instructions to know how to install and use the car seat properly. Do not rely on the former owner's instructions. Get a copy of the manual from the manufacturer.
    5. It has cracks in the frame of the seat.
    6. It is missing parts. Used seats often come without important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.

Registering a car seat is the best way for the manufacturer to alert the consumer of a recall and send any required repair kit. In addition to registering your car seat, sign up to receive e-mail alerts about car seat and booster seat recalls from NHTSA.

In 2014, more than 6 million car seats were recalled for a safety defect, yet fewer than half of them were fixed. The infographic below oultines how to determine if a child's car set has been recalled and what to do.

Handy resources

Is your child riding in a recalled car seat? Infographic

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