5 mistakes parents make with kids, auto seats

Safe Kids Wood County strongly urges all parents and caregivers to follow these steps to ensure their child is protected in a vehicle.

To mark National Child Passenger Safety Week, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Evenflo are offering auto seat inspections.

“That’s the least of our worries to be honest with you; the biggest outcome is the risk to your child’s safety”, said Sergeant Chance. RPD has partnered with Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Circle of Friends, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Russellville Walmart to make this event happen to educate River Valley residents on proper safety seat installation to keep our children safe. “You’ll be alerted to a recall, that’s always helpful.” said Hochstetler.

They say there are all sorts of ways parents are buckling their kids in wrong.

Even if you’ve gotten it checked before, you’ll need to get different types of seats as your child grows up.

Parents who buy second-hand vehicle seats may be unknowingly buying a seat under recall with safety defects.

“Texas law requires all children younger than 8 years old, unless taller than 4’9”, to be in the appropriate child safety system, either a booster or a vehicle seat.

Children age 4 and 5 must be in a child safety seat, a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat, or a booster seat.

AAA said it’s best to keep small children in the back.

“It’s either people don’t know they have those lower anchors or they’re in an effort to be extra safe, they’re using the seat belt and those lower anchors”, said Camille Becker, Target Zero manager for the Yakima Police Department.

Making sure the belt is in the right path depending on the direction the seat is facing is also crucial.