Keeping Your Child Safe in the Car
As a parent, there's nothing you want more than to keep your child safe. So why wouldn't you take all the precautions you can to ensure safety in a vehicle, from choosing the proper car seat to installing it correctly and more. Keep reading to learn what you can do about the dangers in your car that could affect your children.
Children can hurt themselves with power windows. Injuries often occur when a window closes on their fingers, hand or wrist. In some instances, children have even been strangled by power windows. To prevent injury from power windows, take the following precautions:
A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head, neck or waist. The majority of seat belts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the belt is pulled all the way out. The feature is designed for car seat installation, but can also cause a child to become stuck if entangled. Seat belt entanglement can happen in the blink of an eye. Prevention tips include:
Children are naturally curious and love to explore. This can be dangerous if you leave your children unattended near a vehicle, when they decide to start playing in the trunk. If they become trapped, temperatures in the trunk can quickly rise and cause heat stroke. All newer cars are equipped with a glow in the dark trunk release. Show your children how to use this in case of an emergency. Other prevention tips include:
Heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash-related fatalities among children. This occurs when a child is left in a hot vehicle, allowing the child's temperature to rise too high. Children are more vulnerable to heatstroke than adults. The following are some tips to avoid putting children at risk of heatstroke:
Power Windows
Children can hurt themselves with power windows. Injuries often occur when a window closes on their fingers, hand or wrist. In some instances, children have even been strangled by power windows. To prevent injury from power windows, take the following precautions:
- Teach your children not to play with window switches.
- Teach your children not to stand on door arm rests.
- Properly restrain your children in car seats or seat belts to prevent them from accidentally activating power windows or sunroofs.
- Look and make sure your children's hands, feet and head are clear of windows before raising them.
- Never leave the key in the ignition when you walk away from your car.
- If available, activate the power window lock switch so that your children cannot play with the windows.
Seat Belt Entanglement
A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head, neck or waist. The majority of seat belts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the belt is pulled all the way out. The feature is designed for car seat installation, but can also cause a child to become stuck if entangled. Seat belt entanglement can happen in the blink of an eye. Prevention tips include:
- Do not let children play in or around cars.
- Always ensure children are properly restrained.
- Teach children that seat belts are not toys.
- Buckle unused seat belts that are within reach of children.
Trunk Entrapment
Children are naturally curious and love to explore. This can be dangerous if you leave your children unattended near a vehicle, when they decide to start playing in the trunk. If they become trapped, temperatures in the trunk can quickly rise and cause heat stroke. All newer cars are equipped with a glow in the dark trunk release. Show your children how to use this in case of an emergency. Other prevention tips include:
- Teach your children that the trunk is for cargo and not for playing.
- Check the trunk right away if your child is missing.
- Lock your car doors and trunk, and make sure your keys are out of sight and reach of your children.
- Keep the rear fold-down seats closed/locked to keep your children from crawling into the trunk from the back seat.
Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash-related fatalities among children. This occurs when a child is left in a hot vehicle, allowing the child's temperature to rise too high. Children are more vulnerable to heatstroke than adults. The following are some tips to avoid putting children at risk of heatstroke:
- Make it a habit to always look before you lock.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat when it's empty and then move that stuffed animal to the front seat as a reminder that your child is in the back seat.
- If someone else is driving your child somewhere, ensure they arrive at the destination; for example call the care taker or the school.
- Keep your vehicle locked and your keys out of reach while you're at home. Nearly 3 in 10 heatstroke deaths occur when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle.
- Take action if you notice a child alone in a car!
Find more information and resources for keeping your children safe in the car at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
At Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC, we want to help keep you and your children safe in your vehicle and on the roads. That includes keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape! For all your vehicle maintenance needs, bring your car into our vehicle service department in Camdenton, MO. We're more than just an auto dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks. We can take care of all your vehicle needs.
Sales: 573.317.4191
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC - That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
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