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Booster seats, seat belts save children's lives
SEATTLE - Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children
ages two to 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That's why the NW Insurance Council supports Child Passenger
Safety Week.
Fortunately, there are proven ways to reduce deaths and injuries. Studies
show that children, ages four to eight, who use booster seats are 59-percent
less likely to be injured in a car accident than those who only wear a
seat belt.
"Children often lack the judgment to ensure their own safety," said
Karl Newman, president of the NW Insurance Council. "Adults should
make sure each child has and uses safety restraints that are appropriate
for the child's age, weight and height."
According to the Washington Safety Restraint Coalition, many deaths and
injuries to children can be prevented by the proper use of car seats,
booster seats and safety belts. In fact, child safety seats reduce fatal
injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers, 1 to
4 years old.
The Washington Safety Restraint Coalition and the NW Insurance Council
recommend the following guidelines for children's' car seats and seat
belts:
- Children weighing less than 20 pounds (and up to 1 year old) should
be in rear-facing safety seats placed in the back seat.
- Children up to 40 pounds should be in forward-facing safety seats
placed in the back seat.
- Children 40 to 80 pounds should be in a booster seat in the back
seat.
- Children weighing more than 80 pounds should use an adult safety
belt system in the back seat up to age 13.
For more information on child seat safety, contact NW Insurance
Council at (800) 664-4942 or visit www.nwinsurance.org.
NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization
funded by member insurance companies.
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