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 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.

Every child within the High Ridge Fire district should have the protection a properly installed and approved car seat can provide. For most families within our district, the cost of a child seat is a small price to pay for such an important life saving device. Some families with children are not so fortunate. To combat this problem the High Ridge Fire Protection District has developed a program for providing and installing child passenger seats at little to no cost.

Those who are able afford child safety seats but only require installation assistance and education are encouraged to participate in the program as well.

If you have any questions or are interested in this program you may call the High Ridge Fire Department at 636-677-3371.

The Facts:

- In 2005, more than 1,400 child occupants died in motor vehicle crashes and nearly half were unrestrained.

- More than 203,000 occupants under 14 years of age were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2005.

- From 1993 to 2002, there were 159 reported fatal injuries to children less than 12 years of age associated with airbag deployment. Of the total child fatalities 69.2 percent were unrestrained and 29.6 percent were improperly restrained.

- For children ages 0 to 8, restraint use has increased from 15 percent in 1999 to 73 percent in 2005.

- Children are more likely to be properly restrained when the driver is properly restrained.

- In a study observing the misuse of 3,442 child restraint systems (CRS) in six states, approximately 73 percent of CRSs showed at least one critical misuse.

- The most common form of misuses for all Child Restraint Systems included loose vehicle seat belt attachment to the CRS and loose harness straps securing the child to the CRSs.

- Children 2 to 5 years of age using safety belts prematurely are four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury in a crash than those restrained in child safety seats or booster seats.

What Can you Do:

- Set an appointment with a High Ridge Fire Car Seat Technician to have your child safety seats checked. You will need to bring the vehicle that you would like to have the seat installed in, the vehicles owners manual, the child's safety seat and all provided hardware and manual. If you believe the seat is installed safely it is can also be helpful if the child is present that the restraints may be fitted correctly.

- 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 that weigh between 20 and 40 pounds 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. Avoid purchasing safety seats from yard sales, flea markets and second hand stores or when there is no known history of the seat.

- For more information reguarding the correct seat for your child's age and size click here