Safe Kids

Car Seat and Booster Seat checks will be offered at The Ashland County-City Health Department.

Call
419-282-4357
for an appointment.

A limited amount will be given to lower income families. To be eligible for this you must bring proof of income; Medicaid card, and WIC card acceptable for proof of income.

Laws and Regulations

Every child*under 8 years old must ride in a booster seat or other appropriate child safety seat unless the child is 4’9” or taller.

Every child from 8-15 years old who is not secured in a car seat must be secured in the vehicles seat belt. Children under 13 years old should ride in the back seat.

Belt use laws in 25 states and the District of Columbia are standard, or primary, meaning police may stop vehicles solely for belt law violations.

Safety Interventions

Ensure that every occupant is properly restrained for every ride.

Always follow manufacturer’s instructions. Infants should ride in rear-facing child safety seats as long as possible (a minimum of 12 months old and 20 pounds).

Correctly secure children who have outgrown their rear-facing car seats in a forward facing child safety seat. Always use the safety seat tether for optimal protection.

Correctly secure children over 40 pounds in a booster seat or other appropriate child restraint until the adult lap and shoulder safety belts fit correctly (approximately 4’9” and 80-100 pounds, usually between 8 and 12 years).

Return the product registration card provided for all new child safety seats to the manufacturer to ensure you will be notified of any recalls.

Check www.recalls.gov to inquire about any recalls or safety notices on child safety seats.

Car Seats,
Booster, and
Seat Belt Safety
Fact Sheet

KEY FACTS

Child safety seats and safety belts, when installed and used properly, can prevent injuries and save lives. Each year, an estimated 975 child occupants under 14 years of age die as a result of a motor vehicle incident.

Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.

Child Restraint System Effectiveness

Child safety seats reduce fatal injury in passenger cars by 71 percent for infants less than 1 year old and by 54 percent for toddlers 1 to 4 years of age. For children 4 to 7 years of age, booster seats have shown to reduce injury risk by 59 percent compared to safety belts alone.

Among children under 5 years of age, 451 lives were saved in 2004 due to child restraint use. Of these 451 lives saved, the use of child safety seats was responsible for 413 saved lives and the use of safety belts saved 38 lives.

An estimated 1,700 children’s lives were saved between 1996 and 2002 solely because they were seated in a back seat.

Main Navigation

Safety Interventions

Child Restraint System Effectiveness