PITTSBURGH — Every 33 seconds, a child under the age of 13 is involved in a car crash. In fact, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children.
That’s why Pennsylvania recently changed the law when it comes to car seats and booster seats.
This week, state police are checking car seats to ensure they're installed properly.
Kids under the age of 2 must be in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of 8 must ride in an appropriate fitting booster seat, unless they are over 4 feet 9 inches tall or weigh over 80 pounds.
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Jeff Meyer from Pittsburgh EMS said it’s important to check the label first to make sure you have the correct seat for your child. You also want to ensure your child is sitting the correct way, to keep them as safe as possible.
“Children, a lot of the weight is in the head, especially under age 2,” Meyer said. “They don’t have the muscle strength to keep the head up and if they are forward facing too soon, you have that sudden stop, they can have serious spinal damage from that.”
If your child is facing the rear of the car, the seat can absorb some of the impact and the head won’t jerk as much.
The best way to ensure your car seat is installed correctly is to have it inspected.
If you live in the city of Pittsburgh, you can contact Pittsburgh EMS. They have nine certified technicians who can provide installation and safety education. To schedule an appointment, call 412-255-2450. Appointments are scheduled on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
For people who live outside the city, here are other ways to find a certified inspection location: