Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children of all races, ages 5 to 14, according to national statistics. The state of Georgia enacted the Child Safety Seat Law, which states in essence that: 

• Every driver transporting a child passenger four (4) years of age and under shall provide for the protection of the child with a federally approved child safety seat. The seat must be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

DFCS children must be individually (seat) belted in cars. Any car transporting a child in care must be equipped with working seat belts or updated to meet this requirement.

Special Tips for Car Seat Safety:

• Never allow the seat strap to be twisted as this is more likely to cut into the child’s body than a flattened seat strap. Straps may be washed, but never ironed. 
• Babies up to 20 pounds are safest riding in the rear of the car with car seat facing rear. Do not use a safety seat with a shield as it could make contact with the infant’s face or neck during impact. See illustration A in appendix. 
• Children over 20 pounds may ride in the rear of the car, buckled in and facing forward. However, the longer a child is allowed to ride facing the rear of the vehicle, the better. The neck and spinal chord are better protected in a young child in this position. See illustration B in Appendix. 
• Booster seats, with or without a shield may be used for children over 40 pounds or three (4) years old and over. Secure the child with both a lap and shoulder belt if the booster seat has no shield. See illustration C in appendix. 
• Secure the child with a lap belt only if the booster seat has a shield. See illustration D in appendix. 
• Follow carefully the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that pre-term infants born earlier than 37 weeks be observed for possible breathing difficulties when placed in a semi-reclining restraint (car seat) prior to discharge from the hospital. Some “preemies” develop breathing problems when placed in this position. A car bed or other alternative child restraint devices would be more appropriate for infants who have to travel in a prone, supine, or semi-upright position. A written physician’s statement or recommendation regarding the need for a car bed or some other alternative child restraint device vs. a child restraint seat (car seat) is required prior to its use. Take special precautions to refrain from placing these infants in semi-reclining positions at any time until the physician determines this is no longer unsafe.

Riding in the Bed of a Pickup Truck – In the state of Georgia, it is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) to ride as a passenger in the uncovered bed of a pickup truck on any interstate highway in the state. DFCS requires that no child be allowed to ride in the bed of a pick-up truck at any time. 

Other Motorized Vehicles – Due to the potential for serious injury to a child, foster parents are required to take extra precaution when allowing minors to ride as a driver or passenger on the following: motorbikes; all terrain vehicles; small, high-speed water craft, and other similarly motorized vehicles. Any child given permission to drive or ride as a passenger in such vehicles are required to wear appropriate safety gear (i.e., helmet, elbow and knee pads, etc.) as required by the manufacturer.

Airbag safety – Children twelve (12) and under are required to ride in the back seat of cars that have installed passenger air bags in the front panel of the car. Air bags can save lives, however, they have become an increasing cause of fatal injury in young children when deployed following impact.

• Children should ride properly restrained with seat belts in the rear seat of the car. 
• Babies should never be transported in the front seat of the car. 
• Anyone riding in the front seat with a passenger air bag should push the vehicle seat back as far as possible from the dashboard.

Visit these websites to obtain additional information on car safety:

• www.carseat.org 
• www.highwaysafety.org 
• www.nhtsa.dot.gov 
• www.safetyseal.org

Page 60