honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 12, 2007

Riding safe & snug

Advertiser Staff and Wire Reports

With new child passenger rules in effect, it's surprising to hear that many parents aren't properly installing the uber-important safety gear.

The most common mistake? According to car-seat advocate Capt. Chuck Hirata of the Maui Police Department, it's a seat that's too loose.

"If the car takes a corner and you see the seat move, that's too loose," he said.

In charge of the traffic section for 10 years, Hirata felt driven to preach about adequate child safety.

"That's my therapy, I guess," Hirata said. "You see a lot of injuries and deaths that are preventable."

As the parent of a college-age daughter, Hirata knows the trick is to start kids early in car seats — and to be consistent.

"Like a dog whisperer, you gotta be firm and consistent," he said, with a laugh. "You need to be pack leader."

When it comes to the kind of car seat, Advertiser 'Ohana columnist Monica Quock Chan has a favorite: "Everyone I know has the Graco SnugRide, which also has been highly rated for safety."

SAFETY-SEAT INSPECTIONS

Is the child safety-seat properly installed? Have an expert check it out. You must bring your child, the car seat and the car; allow 30 minutes per seat for inspection.

Upcoming checkup dates:

April 7: Army Community Services at Schofield Barracks (Carole Moreno, 433-6434), 9 a.m.-noon.

April 21: Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena parking lot (Chet Adessa, 474-1999, ext. 6102), 2-5 p.m.

Other events and information are listed on the Keiki Injury Prevention coalition Web site: www.kipchawaii.org. Or call 537-9200.

CAR-SEAT NO-NOS

  • Safety seats that move more than an inch.

  • Slack harnesses (they should have space for only one finger at collar bone — you shouldn't be able to pinch the webbing/ fabric).

  • Harness straps too loose or in the wrong position.

  • Harness chest clip in the wrong position. It should be at the baby's chest.

  • Seat belts not locked with a locking clip, seat-belt retractor or locking latch plate. (Newer seat-belt systems have a built-in locking mechanism.)

  • Car seat not secured correctly, either because the wrong seat belt path is used or the seat belts are not tight enough.

  • Placing an infant seat near an air bag that is turned on.

  • Not reading the car-seat manufacturer's instruction booklet completely.

  • Moving a child to a forward-facing, or booster, seat too soon.

    Sources: Capt. Chuck Hirata of the Maui Police Department, http://keepkidshealthy.com

    THE LATCH SYSTEM

  • Newer cars (mostly those made since the fall of 1999) come with a LATCH system. LATCH stands for "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children," which make using car seats easier and safer.

  • Car seats manufactured after 2002 should all be LATCH capable. For the LATCH system to work, your car seat must have a top tether strap and two attachments that connect to the lower attachment points.

  • The LATCH system doesn't need to use a car's seat belts. Instead, the car seat can be strapped directly to the anchors secured in the car.

  • If you are driving an older car without a LATCH system, LATCH tethers can be added. Contact your car's manufacturer.

    • • •