Sherri Webb, MS Parent Educator Tabitha Melby, Teen Parent Educator Jodi Roden, Administrative Assistant

The Facts The Law Acquire One Be Informed

THE FACTS

• Six out of ten children killed in crashes are not wearing seat belts or are not secured in safety seats.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 4 to 14.
• Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured in a crash.
• 7 in 10 people will be in a traffic crash in the next 5 years.
• Every 8 minutes a crash occurs in Iowa.
• 3 out of 4 traffic crashes occur within 25 miles from home.
• Safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers 1 to 6 years old.
• 90% of child safety seats are installed incorrectly.

DO YOU KNOW THE LAW?

All states have child occupant protection laws.  If your child is not buckled up, you are putting your child at a great risk and breaking the law.
Iowa Child Passenger Restraint Law:

• Children under 1 year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds must be secured in an approved rearfacing safety seat.
• Children under 6 years of age must be secured in an approved child safety seat, or booster seat - NOT a seat belt.
• Children age 6 to 11 must be secured in an approved booster seat or seat belt.

The law went into effect in Jan. 2006.  Non-use of safety seats is a justifiable cause to be stopped by law enforcement and the driver fined $25, plus costs (non-moving violation) totaling at least $63.

HOW DO I ACQUIRE A CAR SAFETY SEAT?

• Be a resident of Harrison County.
• Bring your vehicle and child to be fitted for a seat to a county event, School District Child Fair, or make an appointment with the car seat technicians located at the Harrison County Home and Public Health Office in Logan.
• Make a donation of money to support the program to continue purchasing car seats.

Thanks to these businesses and organizations, we are able to provide car safety seats for the children of Harrison County.
Their support of HCCPS is greatly appreciated.

Woodbine Kiwanis, Logan Kiwanis, Burger King - Mo Valley, Pamida Hometown Value Store in Mo Valley, Fouts Funeral Home, Harrison County Farm Bureau, Harrison Mutual Insurance Association, People National Bank, Farmers Trust and Savings Bank, Warner Insurance and Fuel & Shine.

BE INFORMED ABOUT CHILD SAFETY SEATS

• Check the size and weight restrictions on the car seat to make sure it is appropriate for your child.
• The center back seat is the safest place in the car depending on car and safety seat.
• Children 13 years old and younger should be buckled up in the back seat.
• Infants must be placed in rear-facing seats until they are 1 year old and weigh 20 pounds.
• The neck muscles of children under 1 year old are not sufficiently developed to ride facing forward in a crash.
• Children over 1 year old and between 20 and 40 pounds may be placed in a forward - facing safety seat.
• Use a booster seat until your child is 8 years old, 80 pounds, or over 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Never put a shoulder belt under a child’s arms or behind their back, as it eliminates protection for the upper part of the body.
• A proper installed car seat should move less than 1 inch when you pull the base forward or side-to side.
• The car seat’s harness clip should be at armpit level. The harness straps should be snug without excessive slack.