Child Passenger Safety Week

Is your child’s car seat installed properly?

As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week, Cookeville Police Captain Bobby Anderson asks parents to make sure the seat is inserted correctly.

Anderson said buckling in a child could save their life in the event of a car accident.

“What many people may not know is that motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States,” Anderson said. “However, those deaths could be reduced by 80 percent simply by buckling them up or using a proper car seat.”

Anderson said the police department can dispatch an officer to inspect and install a car seat for you. He said some officers receive specific training for installing car seats.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the lap belt should fit snug across the child’s upper thighs. The shoulder belt should be across the shoulder and chest, not over the neck or face. Children 13 and younger should always ride in the back seat.

“If the seat isn’t buckled in correctly and there is, unfortunately, a crash that occurs, the way the seat gets improperly installed may actually cause more injury to the child than what it was originally designed to do,” Anderson said.

Parents should also consider registering the car seat in case of any manufacturer defects.