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Child Safety

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The "New Grinnell Public Safety Building"
To be completed October, 2009
 

 

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart
Buckle Everyone. Children Age 12 and Under in Back!

 

INFANTS

TODDLER

YOUNG CHILDREN

WEIGHT

Birth to 1 year
at least 20-22 lbs.

Over 1 year and
Over 20 lbs.-40 lbs.

Over 40 lbs.
Ages 4-8, unless 4'9''.

TYPE of SEAT

Infant only or rear-facing convertible

Convertible / Forward-facing

Belt positioning booster seat

SEAT POSITION

Rear-facing only

Forward-facing

Forward-facing

ALWAYS MAKE SURE:

Children to one year and at least 20 lbs. in rear-facing seats

Harness straps at or below shoulder level

Harness straps should be at or above shoulders

Most seats require top slot for forward-facing

Belt positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belt.

Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt fits snug crossing the chest and shoulder to avoid abdominal injuries

WARNING

All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat

All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat

All children age 12 and under should ride in the back

 

Iowa Code 2003

321.446  Child restraint devices.

1.  A child under three years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit by a child restraint system which meets federal motor vehicle safety standards, and the system shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

2.  A child at least three years of age but under six years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit by either a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards and is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, or by a safety belt or safety harness of a type approved under section 321.445.

3.  This section does not apply to peace officers acting on official duty. This section also does not apply to the transportation of children in 1965 model year or older vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, buses, or motor homes, except when a child is transported in a motor home's passenger seat situated directly to the driver's right. This section does not apply to the transportation of a child who has been certified by a physician licensed under chapter 148, 150, or 150A as having a medical, physical, or mental condition that prevents or makes inadvisable securing the child in a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness.

4.  The operator who violates subsection 1 or 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject only to the penalty provisions of section 805.8A, subsection 14, paragraph "c".

5.  A person who is first charged for a violation of subsection 1 and who has not purchased or otherwise acquired a child restraint system shall not be convicted if the person produces in court, within a reasonable time, proof that the person has purchased or otherwise acquired a child restraint system which meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.

6.  Failure to use a child restraint system, safety belts, or safety harnesses as required by this section does not constitute negligence nor is the failure admissible as evidence in a civil action.

 

 


 

 
Children and Air Bags
 

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What's the Problem?

Most new cars have air bags for front-seat passengers. When used with lap/shoulder belts, air bags work very well to protect older children and adults who ride facing the front of the car. Air bags do not work with rear-facing child seats (those used with infants). Airbags could seriously injure or even kill an unbuckled child or adult who is sitting too close to the air bag or who is thrown toward the dash during emergency braking. In a crash, the air bag inflates very quickly. It could hit anything close to the dashboard with enough force to cause severe injuries or even death. Because the back of a rear-facing child seat sits very close to the dashboard, the seat could be struck with enough force to cause serious, or even fatal injuries to a baby. Even older childen (who have outgrown child seats) are at risk from a deploying air bag, if they are not properly restrained with a lap/shoulder belt.

What Should I Do?

The rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride. An infant in a rear-facing child seat must ride in the back seat if your vehicle has a passenger side air bag (babies under 1 year and 20 pounds should always ride in a rear-facing seat). Make sure that everyone in the front seat is properly buckled up and seated as far back from the air bags as is reasonably possible. Make sure that all young children are properly secured in a child safety seat and older children by a lap/shoulder belt. Know how to properly install your child seat in the vehicle. Read both the owner’s manual for the vehicle and the instructions for your child safety seat.

Where Can I Get More Information?

Call NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236)

Written information and “tip sheets” are available by writing to:

Child Safety Seats
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
 400 7th Street S.W. NTS-13
 Washington , DC 20590 .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last updated 04/19/2008