| It is natural for any parent to feel slightly relieved when | | | | child and helps him or her to maintain the correct |
| their kids grow up to be able to take care of his | | | | seating position. In case the child does not pass the |
| various needs. He no longer ties himself to mamma's | | | | Safety Belt Fit Test or the safety belt does not fit him |
| apron strings, so to speak. But even older kids cannot | | | | properly, he ought to return to a booster seat. |
| be safe on the road all the time and as statistics show, | | | | As a parent you must insist that the child, after he |
| they are victims of road mishaps every day. Study | | | | starts to use the safety belt, use it at all times. He |
| these figures and you would know what we are | | | | must never lean against windows or car doors or lie |
| talking about: | | | | down. The shoulder best must never be put under his |
| - In the United States in 2007, lives of an average of 5 | | | | arms or behind his back. |
| children of age 14 and younger were lost every day | | | | In case you are wondering what this Safety belt Fit |
| while 548 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. | | | | Test is all about, here are some salient features in |
| - In the same year, there were a total of 41,059 traffic | | | | brief: |
| fatalities in the United States. The 14- and- younger | | | | - Needless to mention this test is done to check the |
| age group accounted for 4% (1,670) of those traffic | | | | child's eligibility to use a safety belt in the car. For this, |
| fatalities. | | | | the child has to lean back on the car seat as much as |
| - During 2002, 7,739 passenger vehicle occupants | | | | possible. Check whether his knees are bending at the |
| under 15 years old were involved in fatal crashes. For | | | | front edge of the seat. If it does naturally, then you go |
| those children, where restraint use was known, 32% | | | | to the next step, or else, return to booster seats. |
| were unrestrained; among those who were fatally | | | | - The lap and shoulder belt should be buckled. Ensure |
| injured, 50% were unrestrained. | | | | that the lap belt lies on the upper legs or hips. If it does |
| - In 2007, an average of 12 children was injured every | | | | naturally, then you go to the next step, or else, return |
| minute, resulting in more than 6 million reported | | | | to booster seats. |
| unintentional injuries over the course of the year. | | | | - Ensure that the shoulder belt rests firmly on the |
| - Every 101 minutes, a child in the United States dies | | | | shoulder. If it does naturally, then you go to the next |
| from an unintentional injury, such as a vehicle crash or | | | | step, or else, return to booster seats. The shoulder belt |
| a fire, making it the leading cause of death and | | | | should never be put under the child's arms or behind his |
| disability for children ages 1 to 14 in the country. | | | | back. |
| The above would undoubtedly act as an eye opener if | | | | - You have to check whether the child can maintain |
| you are a parent of an older child. One of the | | | | the right posture. In case he slouches or shifts position |
| questions which frequently bother most parents who | | | | for the safety belt to touch his face, neck or stomach, |
| have children in this age group is when exactly should | | | | he is not ready for safety belt use and must return to |
| the older child start to use safety belts. The answer to | | | | booster seat. |
| this common question is: once your child passes the | | | | Safety belt fit test is a must before you shift your |
| Safety Belt Fit Test, he is required to use safety belts | | | | older child from a booster. This is one of the many |
| in a back seat in every vehicle on every ride. A lap | | | | safety precautions a parent ought to take for his child |
| and shoulder belt provides the best protection to your | | | | when he is traveling in a car. |