Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Child Safety Seats Need Proper Installation

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
Most of us have to drive, at some point, nearly every day. Driving is a normal part of our lives, whether for pleasure or for business. Often we need to take our family with us. The laws in the State of Washington (as in all 50 states) are very specific as to the need to secure children properly, in a child safety seat (CSS) that is appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height.

In general, all children need to be in the back seat, until they are at least 13 years of age. In your author’s household, the rule was “until you are old enough to sit behind the wheel, you sit in the back seat.”

Babies need to be secured rear-facing in a seat appropriate for their age and size. Keep your child facing the rear as long as they are within the size and weight limits of the specific CSS you are using. Higher weight limit seats are now available to make it easier to keep the kids facing the rear as long as possible.

Toddlers, at absolute minimum, must be a year of age, and weigh more than the upper limit on your rear facing seat, before they can be turned around to sit forward facing. Again, keep your child in this type of a seat until they pass the upper weight limit.

For older children, a booster seat is needed until they are at least 8 years of age, 80 lbs. weight, and 4’ 9” tall.

If you have questions or would like to have your child safety seat checked for proper installation, contact Norm at 206-382-4090, to make an appointment.
Pictured: Leal Ridgway and Norm Nyhuis

1 comment:

  1. Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff you post!! Thumbs up

    life

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