Proper Use of Child Safety Seats in Cars - Ensuring Children's Safety During Travel

Did you know that according to the law, children up to the age of 3 must use a safety seat, and up to the age of 8, a booster seat? There are many reasons for this, and here we will discuss just a few:

• In infants, the neck vertebrae are not sufficiently developed, so during an accident, when the body moves forcefully forward, serious damage to the spinal cord can occur.
  A toddler secured in a rear-facing
• car seat creates fewer distractions for the driver.
  Proper use of a safety seat
• reduces the incidence of fatalities and serious injuries in road accidents.
  Remember, even on short trips,
• everyone should buckle up.
  To take your baby home from the
• hospital, you must show the staff that you have a safety seat.

What type of safety seat do you need?

Safety seats can be divided into groups according to the age and weight of the child.
Various companies sell different models, and your choice should be based on your budget, family car, and comfort. When purchasing a car seat, make sure it complies with the official standard for safety seats, T.I. 1107, to ensure the safety of your children. In addition, safety seats have an expiration date, so it's advisable to check the manufacturing date. Typically, the expiration date is about 6 years from the manufacturing date.

Divided by age group, there are 3 categories:

1.
Birth to age two - Until the age of one, the law requires seating in a rear-facing car seat, and it is recommended to continue until the age of two.

• With base carrier: The base is anchored to the car permanently, and for every trip, the carrier is attached to the base and detached at the end. The advantage of such a carrier is the ability to remove the baby from the car quickly without unnecessary jostling. A quick way to transition from the car to the house. The disadvantage is that in the case of changing cars, you must transfer the base or ensure that there is an additional suitable one for this carrier.
• Baseless carrier: Suitable forinfants and has a carrying handle. The carrier is anchored to the car only by the car's seatbelt and allows anchoring against the direction of travel only.
• Integrated safety seat: Allows both rear-facing and forward-facing anchoring according to the age and weight of the baby. Suitable from birth to booster transition. The seat is anchored to the car according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the child is secured with the seat's internal harness.

Ages two to five - If the child feels 2. comfortable and the car seat allows, you can continue to seat the child facing the rear. However, infants over the age of one can sit forward-facing in a car seat anchored to the car and secured with the seat's internal straps.

• It is recommended to secure toddlers up to 18 kg with the car seat's internal straps.
• Most of these seats will be suitable for children up to 30 kg.
• Safety seat: Anchored to the car and secured with the car seat's internal straps. Different seats require different anchoring methods to the car; check the manufacturer's instructions to know the correct way.
• Booster seat: Children up to the age of 8 must sit in a booster seat according to the law in Israel.
• Belted booster: Includes internal straps and serves as a combined safety seat. Depending on the child's weight, usually up to 18 kg, they will be secured with the internal straps. Then, the internal straps can be removed, and only the car's seatbelt can be used, as with a high-back booster.

3. Ages five to ten - The use of a booster with or without a backrest is recommended until the child reaches a height of 1.45 meters.

How to Secure Your Child in the Safety Seat Properly:

Children up to the age of 13 should sit in the rear seat according to recommendations before. If, however, the child sits in the front seat, the airbag in that seat should be deactivated.
It is advisable to remove thick clothing such as coats from the child before buckling them into the safety seat.
Properly anchoring the seat to the car is very important so that in sudden stops or accidents, the safety seat remains in place. There are authorized installers who can assist with the initial installation.
There are two methods for anchoring the seat to the car:

• Direct anchoring to the car frame using built-in anchor loops found in some cars.
• Anchoring the safety seat to the car using the car's seatbelt.

A properly anchored safety seat should not move more than 2.5 cm on each side.
Before each trip, make sure that the safety seat belts are securely fastened to the child's body.
Some safety seat manufacturers prohibit the use of a seat that has been in an accident; check the manufacturer's instructions for precise guidelines on the seat you have chosen.

Buckling up the seatbelt at every age and on every ride is mandatory and can prevent serious injuries.

Safe and pleasant travels.