Governor’s Child Seat Program

1. Governor’s Child Seat Program

2. Project 8 Goal • Keep children safe by using most appropriate seat for each child’s: • Height • Weight • Development • Partnership between Department of Social Services and Department of Public Safety began in 2005

3. Project 8 Coordinators 1 - Rapid City 2 - Pierre 3 - Aberdeen 4 - Brookings 5 – Sioux Falls

4. Project 8 Partners • 130 Technicians currently certified in SD • 46 Cities represented • 56 Partners • 10 Instructors • 2 Instructor Candidates • Other sponsors include State Farm Insurance and March of Dimes

5. Project 8 Services Offered • Presentations • Car seat inspections • Distribution to needy families • Special needs seats

6. Project 8 Requirements • Income eligible families can receive seats: • WIC • Title 19 • Child Care Assistance • Food Stamps • Energy Assistance • TANF

7. NHTSA’s Four Steps For Kids

8. Correct Use of Child Restraints: • Selection • Direction • Location • Installation Always read both the vehicle owner’s manual and the child restraint owner’s manual!

9. Project 8 – Types of Seats Available • Infant only carriers • Convertible seats • Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations • Booster seats • Special needs seats

10. Why rear facing is important! Increased crash protection: • Spreads crash forces along the entire head, neck, and back • Protects head, neck, and spinal cord • CR absorbs forces of the crash

11. Infant only carriers • Typically 5 – 22 pounds • Facing rear of vehicle • Never in the front seat • Harness slots at or below shoulders • May or may not come with a base

12. Project 8 – Types of Seats Available • Infant only carriers • Convertible seats • Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations • Booster seats • Special needs seats

13. Convertible seats-rear facing • Can be used rear facing 5 – 30 pounds • Never in the front seat • 2 seat belt paths • Harness slots at or below shoulders

14. Convertible seats-forward facing • Convertible seats-forward facing • Can be used forward facing 20 – 40 pounds • Harness slots at or above shoulders • 2 seat belt paths

15. Project 8 – Types of Seats Available • Infant only carriers • Convertible seats • Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations • Booster seats • Special needs seats

16. Forward Facing/Booster Seats • Use after child is at least 20 pounds AND at least 1 year old • 20 – 40 pounds with harness • 40 – 100 pounds as booster seat • Harness slots at or above shoulders

17. Project 8 – Types of Seats Available • Infant only carriers • Convertible seats • Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations • Booster seats • Special needs seats

18. Incorrect belt fit because there is no booster seat Correct belt fit with belt-positioning booster Why use a booster seat? • Protects children too large for a CR with harness but too small for a simple seat belt. • Increases crash protection from injuries

19. Booster seats – High Back • Recommendation – 40 – 100 pounds • High Back is best when there is no head rest • Must use lap and shoulder belts

20. Booster seats –Backless • Recommendation – 40 to 80 or 100 pounds • Use with head restraint from vehicle • Must use lap and shoulder belts

21. Project 8 – Types of Seats Available • Infant only carriers • Convertible seats • Forward Facing/Booster seat combinations • Booster seats • Special needs seats

22. Special Needs Restraints

23. Region 1 – 92% Misuse in 2007 • Types of misuse include: • Selection of incorrect seat • Direction seat should face • Location in the vehicle • Installation of both the car seat in vehicle and the child in car seat

24. Installation guidelines • Something on the seat belt must lock to hold car seat securely in place: • Locking latch plate • Retractor locks – either automatically or switches to lockable • Locking clip • Vehicles manufactured after 1995 were required to have ability to lock.

25. Locking latch plates

26. Retractors • Automatic locking retractors – always lock • Emergency retractors – will only lock if there is a sudden stop – does not work to install child seats! • Switchable retractors – pull seat belt to end and it changes to an Automatic locking retractor. Sample of label on seatbelt for the switchable retractor.

27. Locking clips • Must be used if nothing else locks on the seat belt • Only correct location is close to the latchplate • Can be used to prevent tipping of rear facing seats

28. LATCH • LLower • AAnchors and • TTethers for • CHChildren

29. LATCH Components Lower anchors – required in 2003 models Top tethers – required in 2001 models

30. New car seats are LATCH equipped Lower anchors Top tether

31. Correct installation of car seat • Seat belt or LATCH through correct belt path • Seat belt or LATCH is locked and securely fastened • Child restraint does not move more than 1 inch side to side when checked at seat belt path • Tether is used if possible

32. Correct positioning of child • Harness is in correct slot for rear or forward facing • Harness is snug – not able to pinch at shoulder • Chest clip at armpit level • No bulky coats under harness

33. Common misuses • Seat belt not in locked mode • Seat belt not tight • Wrong belt path • Harness not snug • Chest clip too low • Car seat expired or recalled

34. Misuse at a glance

35. Misuse at a glance

36. Misuse at a glance

37. Misuse at a glance

38. Misuse at a glance

39. Misuse at a glance

40. Misuse at a glance

41. Misuse at a glance

42. Misuse at a glance

43. Misuse at a glance

44. Misuse at a glance

45. Misuse at a glance

46. For more information • Website: http://www.state.sd.us/project8/ • Department of Social Services – Melissa Fluckey, state coordinator