Children and infants riding without a seat belt is no joke. With car-related accidents being one of the leading causes of death for children, it’s important to know what you should do in the event of an emergency and how to protect your child from harm. We’ve put together five tips you can use to keep your children safe even when they’re not wearing their seat belts.
1.Why is it so important to wear a seat belt?
It’s important to wear a seat belt because it helps to protect you from harm in the case of an accident. It can also help to keep you in your seat if the car flips over. Paragraph: It’s important to wear a seat belt because it can help to protect you from harm in the case of an accident. It can also help to keep you in your seat if the car flips over. “Let’s face it, people have died and injured in the U.S. due to distracted driving in cars, trucks, SUVs, and even in construction-related incidents involving distraction devices.
Each year in the U.S., 700 people die in car crashes, and 480 people are killed in other traffic accidents involving distracted persons.” (White, 2015) Research has shown that people don’t always understand the risks of using electronic devices when operating a vehicle. In particular, distracted driving affects both adults and children and significantly influences young drivers.
(Edwards & 2014) For these reasons, it’s important to ensure you always use your seatbelt. Paragraph: It’s important to use a seatbelt because it can help to protect you from harm in the case of an accident. “The U.S. causes over 25,000 deaths annually due to distracted driving. This nation is in the top five for deaths caused by distracted driving every year.” (Bordeleau, 2013) According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, on average, 4,900 people die every year globally due to distracted driving.
If you commute to work, walking to and from work, standing at a stop sign, waiting in a queue or on escalators, or even talking on a phone while driving can all increase your risk of having a tragic accident. On the other hand, there are also many positive effects of using your electronic devices. Car accidents are by far the leading cause of death in the world. These accidents are not only mainly caused by people using cell phones while driving.
2.What are the best ways to protect your children from accidents?
The best way to protect your children from accidents is to create an environment that’s safe for them. Make sure your home is safe by removing any tripping hazards, such as loose cords and small pieces of furniture. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. And on the top and bottom of the doors of the rooms where your children play. These simple measures help keep dangers like the stairs away. Ensure your kids fasten the seat belt whenever they play with a ride-on car, and like Tobbi, its seat belt has been strictly checked to ensure the security of kids.
3.When should a child begin wearing a seat belt?
The AAP recommends that children ride in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. Most children will require a booster seat until they have reached 4’9” in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age. The lap belt should fit across the hips and the shoulder belt should rest across the chest and shoulder. Bullet Point: 4. 5 lbs Latch Mechanism: Latch on Weight: 4.3 lbs Manufacturer’s Directions Unlock the passenger side door by pushing a 19mm Allen key inside the nearest keyhole. Locate the 3 vertical “bolts” that hold the latch and cinch the door shut by pressing the secondary lock button on the passenger door.
If your child weighs 40–50 pounds (or you’re using the rear seat), buckle the seat belt around your child and continue up the ladder to the second-floor level. Now that you have the car seat secured to the vehicle, attend to all over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and any other supplements that may be needed. Bullet Point: 4.5 lbs Latch Mechanism: Latch on Weight: 4.3 lbs Manufacturer’s Directions An adult should never use a child seat belt to secure a toddler in the rear bench seat. Pedaling backward with the child in the seat provides too much force that can cause neck and back injuries. Adults should use their own buckles or straps. And check for proper fit on the seat, and maintain eye contact with the child to ensure their safety.
Now when you get to the car, flop down the rear-facing baby seat behind the driver’s seat. Align the rear-facing seat with the middle of the vehicle’s width. Here are some illustrations to help you. This is the child’s first seat in the car. Use the clip right below to connect the car seat belt to the seat belt. Attach the other end of the car seat belt to the harness or harness latch and tighten the two loops together. Pay particular attention to securing the kiddos’ positions for a snug, secure fit.
4.How can you get your kids to wear their seat belts?
You can’t just tell them to wear their seat belts. You have to give them a really good reason why. A simple message can make a huge difference sometimes. Check it out: 1.Pick a friendly(non-judgmental) voice and tone. Avoid abrupt, over-the-top comments. 2. Talk to your customer. Show them you care. 3.Give them as much information as you can. Tell the truth. Don’t bore them with fluff and BS. 4. Tell them if they don’t buckle up. Then you would be ‘damaged’ if the ‘accident’ happened to you, and you would want them to buckle up for you. 5. On rare occasions, tell them whether you will or won’t buckle up.
Nobody wants an angry driver on their calls. Listen to this video: I think you get the gist. I want you to take a couple of minutes to think about the kind of customer you have on your call and choose a friendly voice and tone. It may take you a few days to work it out. It’s worth it because we humans like company. Special thanks to @hussainhuber on Twitter for the initial brainstorming.
5.What are you doing wrong if your children don’t wear their seat belts?
Many parents don’t enforce seat belt use because they don’t want to sound like a nag. But if you don’t take the time to enforce seat belt use. Then you’re sending a message that you don’t care about their safety. While that may make you feel good, it puts other drivers and passengers at risk. A 2019 survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that one in three teens and young adults don’t wear seat belts. In a similar survey, 31% of all drivers said they wear seat belts but only 8% use them. Seat belts can save lives. And if you get one in the right seat, you can reduce the odds of experiencing a crash by 33% or more.
So make seat belt use a priority for everyone. If you’re a teenager or young adult, remember to take the time to properly buckle up. Knowing this will not only help you in the long run, but it will also help you behave. In contrast, a 2019 study found that only 36% of teens buckle up properly. If you have children, make sure you coach them on seat belt usage. This means reinforcing the importance of wearing their seat belts. Even on short trips, particularly in cases where other drivers aren’t wearing theirs.
Unfortunately, you can’t strictly enforce seat belt use if all the drivers in your life drive old cars. Instead, when you commute, let drivers know when you’re going to enforce seat belt use in the vehicle. This will encourage them to enforce the rule in their own vehicles if they have to, ensuring that other drivers abide by the law as well.
When I had my daughter, parents were the first to suggest we only take our daughter to the park or to go into the store. This turned out to be a bad idea. As it turns out, most people don’t need to be in their car for a whole lot.
