children

Beware! The chances of children being hit by a car are much higher on Halloween night than any other night of the year.

Drivers need to take special precautions and watch out for young pedestrians on Halloween night.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that there are more than four times the average number of deaths for children between the ages of five and fifteen due to pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents on Halloween. Try to avoid venturing out in your car during this time, but if you have to, beware of the dangers and be very, very careful.

Tips for Drivers:

• Keep in mind that children may have very limited visibility due to the restrictions of their costumes. Don’t assume that they see you.
• Stay below the posted speed limit and never exceed 25 mph in any area where there might be trick-or-treaters, even if the posted speed is higher.
• Don’t pass other vehicles on the road that may be slowing down for trick-or-treating pedestrians. You may not see the kids, or they could be picking up or dropping off children.
• Please use added caution at intersections to look out for children who may be crossing the roadway.
• NEVER use your cell phone, navigation system, sound system, or other distracting devices while in a residential area that may have trick-or-treaters or other pedestrians.

Tips for the Parents:
Here are some reminders to help them stay safe and out of trouble.
• Warn children to cross the street only at intersections. More than half of child pedestrian casualties involve children darting into the street between intersections.
• Instruct children to always walk facing traffic, avoid trick-or-treating on busy streets.
• If a costume is particularly dark or camouflages with surroundings, apply reflective stickers or tape to make your child more visible to drivers.
• Have children carry a flashlight or glow stick while walking between houses to enhance visibility.
• Also, make sure children can see out of their costumes. Avoid using masks that may impair the child’s vision.
• Walk with your children or assign a chaperone if possible.

Have a Happy & Safe Halloween!

Do you follow the recommended car seat installation procedures?  A properly installed child seat could save your child’s life.

Recent studies show that most parents don’t follow the proper guidelines for installing car seats for their children – or that they don’t use the right seat at all.  Understandably, children don’t want to be stuck in a car seat – they want to feel like a grown up.  But even seven or eight year olds should be in a booster seat.

The purpose of child safety seats and booster seats is to protect your child in the event of a collision.  While the death rate has declined, car crashes are the main cause of death for children ages 3 to 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Child seats can decrease the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers, and decrease the risk of injury by 59%.

 

If you have a child under the age of 13, here are some safety tips:

• Children under two should be in rear-facing child seats.
• Use the tether straps to secure the child seat. These will keep the tops of the child seats secured in crashes.  They are intended to make installation easier.
• Follow the installation guidelines to make sure the seat is secured properly.
• Strap the child seat in the middle of the back seat.
• Do not use the LATCH anchor for children over 48lbs.
• Children under 13 should be buckled up in the back seat.
• Reinforce good seat belt usage while your kids are still young, so that once they get older, and go out on their own, they will continue to buckle up.

 

It’s very important that children up to seven or eight years old be properly secured in a booster seat.  Seat belts are designed for adults, and therefore won’t provide proper protection (or comfort) for your child.  A booster seat will ensure that the seat belt fits your child properly, so it’s very important that when you buy the booster seat, you check to make sure it fits the booster seat and your child comfortably.