by Justin Brown, FF/EMT-P
6/22/2010

Child Passenger Safety Seats:
They're all the same, right?  Wrong... 
 

 Second Hand Seat

... This is a great article an EMT in Illinois wrote for the local paper there. Not many people realize that 95% of child safety seats on the road right now are not installed properly and have on average three misuses per seat.  Anyone with a car seat in their car should have it checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician.  In Holliston, both the Fire and Police Department have several technicians able to help at no charge to your family. 
 
A question I am often asked is "which seat to buy?" and the answer is not black and white.  There are many factors that must be considered and that's where a CPS technician can help you.  Generally, I say there are three rules:  1. The seat that fits your child;  2. The seat that fits your car; finally, maybe most importantly, 3. The seat you will use properly each and every time.  If you do not use the seat properly, all efforts are wasted.  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of child death in the US.
 
Also, don't be cheap.  There is no denying that child safety seats are expensive nowadays.  But, what is your child's life worth?  I'm sure any of the unfortunate families would do anything to go back in time and pay a mere $200 and 45 minutes to have their seat installed correctly.  There are so many choices to choose from, the installation can be difficult and often people don't know what they are doing wrong.  Use the people who are trained to help you.  The course to become a CPS technician is over a week long for the initial training alone; let us share our knowledge.
 
One of my pet peeves is the accessories.  They are ALL bad.  Even if the packaging claims to be certified by the NTSB or whatever agency they use to catch your attention, it is not true.  None of the car accessories such as mirrors, window shades, mountable toys, etc are safe to be used.  They become projectiles in a crash and can often cause serious injury even if child was otherwise properly restrained.  No matter what the packaging says, they should never be used.  Your car should also be clean with a child in the car.  Anything loose such as your briefcase, groceries or umbrella should be placed in the trunk.
 
Never accept a used car seat. Always read the owner's manual for both your seat and your car, and have your seat inspected.  I can be reached at HFDCPR@gmail.com with any questions.  Enjoy your summer! 

Submitted by Justin Brown, FF/EMT-P, Holliston Fire Department
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician