TV Show Excerpt - CAR SEAT SAFETY

The following excerpt is from the original transcript of the Kids Healthworks television series, episode 119.

WENDY RUTLEDGE (HOST)
A child in her mother's arms. Here at home, there's no place safer. But in Mom's minivan, the only safe place for a baby is a car seat.

MARILYN BULL, MD, FAAP
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Well, the car seat is the single most important piece of equipment that parents buy for their children because motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in infants and young children.

HOST
And children should be in a car seat every time they're in the car - no excuses.

DEBRA VICE
(MOTHER)
Doesn't matter if I'm in a hurry or not, children go in the car seat. Their safety is more important than being late to someplace.

HOST
There are a great variety of car seats available today, at a range of prices. What should you look for?

MARILYN BULL, MD, FAAP
Well, it's important that parents choose a seat that's appropriate for the size and weight of their child and that they use it properly according to the manufacturer's instructions every time they ride in the car.

HOST
There are four basic types of car seats. The first is an infant seat. It's used rear-facing only for infants who weigh up to 20 pounds, or more depending on the model. Why rear facing?

MARILYN BULL, MD, FAAP
When a child is placed forward facing, the forces of the crash are absorbed by the straps of the car seat which cover a smaller area and the risk of injury in those forms of crashes are going to be greater. So we recommend that children ride rear facing as long as possible.

HOST
Some parents may think it awkward not to be able to see or reach their child while they drive, but Debra Vice has found a way around that.

DEBRA VICE
I have a mirror in the back, so this way I have a rearview mirror facing the mirror that's facing her so I can see her, can see what she's doing.

HOST
The second type of car seat a parent should know how to install properly is a "convertible" car seat. Like infant seats, convertible seats can be used rear-facing. Rear-facing weight limits for convertible seats vary, but many range up to 30 to 35 pounds. Convertible seats can also be positioned to face forward for children who are at least one year of age and who weigh 20 to 40 pounds. The advantage of convertible seats is that they can be used longer than infant seats, but they're also bulkier, less portable and may not fit newborn infants as well. After your child graduates from a rear-facing seat, the AAP recommends that she remain in a forward-facing seat with a full harness until she reaches the top weight or height allowed by the seat. The third type of car seat is a combination seat. These are strictly forward-facing seats, and are designed for children who are at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds. They have a full internal harness system which can be removed when the child weighs more than 40 pounds. At that point, the seat becomes the fourth type of car seat: a belt-positioning booster. These are used with the car's own seat belt system and simply boost the child so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit properly. Booster seats can be high-backed or backless. Whichever style you choose, children usually need to use a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 8 to 12 years old and about 4 feet 9 inches tall.

MARILYN BULL, MD, FAAP
It's important to use a belt-positioning booster seat until a child fits the seatbelt well and seatbelts don't fit children until their shoulder harness comes across their mid-point of their chest, the lap belt comes across the top of their legs, and their knees bend when their seat is against the back of the vehicle seat.

HOST
This is critical because a seatbelt that fits improperly can cause serious intra-abdominal injuries in the event