One of the best ways to protect your young child is to CORRECTLY put them in an appropriate child safety seat.  I emphasize correctly because the statistics show that only 72% of child restraints are properly used.  Here are the most common ways that restraints are improperly used:

• Inappropriate age and weight for child restraints
• Wrong direction for the child restraint
• Child restraint improperly placed relative to vehicle's airbags
• Improperly placed or secured child restraints (vehicle's belt or straps not tight enough)
• Crotch strap or harness strap of child restraint secure or tight enough
• Use of a locking clip for certain safety belts
• Improper vehicle belt fit across child in a booster seat
• Child restraints with broken parts.

It's amazing to me that these misuse statistics are so high when we know that proper use of child restraints is one of the most effective ways to protect children against serious injury.  Personally, I personally believe this is a combined failure of government regulation/education and a failure to focus on or address the problem by our vehicle manufacturers.

So, this month will be dedicated to the proper use of child safety restraints.  If there are any particular issues you want me to address, please let me know.