I would like to thank Marion Heintz, public education manager for the Downers Grove Police Department, for submitting the following information about child safety seats.

On average, automobile crashes kill seven and injure 866 children every day. Statistics indicate that more than half of the children who die are not wearing seatbelts or are not properly restrained.

The Downers Grove Police Department works to assist and educate parents and caretakers on safely driving with children.

Crash dynamics
When a vehicle hits another vehicle, tree or other stationary object, unrestrained passengers crash into the interior at whatever speed the vehicle was traveling before impact. An instant later, the internal organs of the passenger crash into the bones of the skeletal system and can cause serious internal injuries or death. The force of that impact increases with the size and weight of the unrestrained occupant. In a 30 mph crash, a 10-pound infant is thrusted toward the impact point with a force of 300 pounds. Clearly, the only way to adequately protect all passengers is to have them restrained.

Changes in the law
There have been critical changes to the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act that are important for parents and caregivers to understand and follow. Children younger than 8 must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, toddler seats and booster seats.

Children weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of an automobile wearing only a lap belt if the back seat is not equipped with a lap/shoulder belt system for booster seat installation.

Children 8 to 18 must be secured with a properly adjusted safety belt.

The parent or legal guardian of a child younger than 8 is responsible for providing a child safety seat to anyone who transports his or her child.

Children with physical disabilities that prevent the use of standard safety seats are exempt from the provisions of the law if a physician duly certifies the disability.

However, there are restraints made especially for special-needs children, and parents should research what makes the most sense for their particular child.

Rear-facing infant seats
Children from birth to 20 pounds should be transported in rear-facing infant seats in the back seat of the vehicle.

Rear-facing infant seats need to be correctly installed so that they are reclined at an about a 45-degree angle and are tightly secured in the vehicle.

The harness straps in these seats must be snug against the child’s body, with the harness retainer clip placed at armpit level.

The best way to ensure the seat is correctly installed is to have a certified child safety seat technician assist the parent. New parents are encouraged to make arrangements to have their infant seats inspected before the baby is born. This prevents scrambling to find a seat technician on their way to pick up their new child from the hospital.

Toddler seats
Forward-facing toddler seats should be installed in the back seat for children that are at least 1 year old and who weigh 20 pounds. The child should remain in a toddler seat until he or she is about age 4 and weighing 40 pounds.

Toddler seats should be secured tightly in the vehicle. Parents frequently are surprised with how tightly the child safety seat technician installs their toddler’s seat.

The harness straps in these seats must be snug against the child’s body, with the harness retainer clip placed at armpit level to ensure the child is not ejected from the seat in a crash. The straps should be routed at the top slots of the seat or above the child’s shoulder.

Booster seats
Booster seats should be placed in the back seat and used in combination with a lap/shoulder safety belt — not with a lap-belt-only system.

The shoulder belt should never be “modified” from the manufacturer’s requirements. Any deviation from the manufacturer’s specifications can compromise the system and cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Seat belt
Placing children in the vehicle’s back seat eliminates the risk of injury from a deployed air bag and keeps them in the safest place should a crash occur. Make sure the belt fits properly and secures at the hipbone and shoulder area.

Finally, remember your child’s safety is your responsibility. Take a firm stand and always set a good example by using your seat belt on every trip.

If you live in Downers Grove and need assistance installing your child safety seat, call CSO Supervisor Tim Sembach at (630) 434-5681 to make an appointment.

Marsha Giesler is the public education officer for the Downers Grove Fire Department.