CPS Week Monday Sept 18th - Selection

Monday, September 18 – Focus on SELECTION

What: Making sure the car seat, booster seat, or seat belt is in good condition (not been in a crash, not
expired or recalled, no labels missing) and appropriate for the child’s age, height, weight, and development
level.
Why: Car seats and booster seats are the basic protection systems for passengers who are too small to get the
full safety benefits from adult seat belts. The goal of car seats is to provide small children with the same protection,
or better, that adults obtain from seat belts and other safety equipment built into a vehicle. They are
designed to keep children within the vehicle and close to their original seating position, prevent contact with
harmful interior surfaces or other occupants, and provide “ride-down” by gradually decelerating the child as
the vehicle deforms and absorbs energy from crash forces. For this to work properly, the right seat must be
selected for the child’s height, weight, and developmental levels.