Quick Tips on Making Sure Your Child is Safe in the Car

The week of September 18 is Child Passenger Safety Week. Our Department of Traffic have a few quick tips to make sure the give extra attention in this matter as it's more than car crashes killing our children.

They say a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle every eight days. This number is far too high.

“It is easy to think we aren’t at risk in Washington with our mild temperatures; however even when it’s only 60 degrees outside, the temperature inside your car can reach 110 degrees.” -Cesi Velez, Project Manager for Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program

A child dies after their body temperature reaches 107.

Although car crashes continue to be the leading cause of death in children in the United States, there are other elements to consider. Proper booster seats and five-point harness seats at proper, recommended ages seems to be up on the list, too.

Washington’s child restraint law (RCW 46.61.687) requires that child passengers use child restraint systems (car or booster seat) until they reach the age of eight years old, or a height of 4 feet 9 inches or taller. The law further states the child must be restrained with the seat belt properly adjusted and fastened, or continue using an appropriately-fitting child restraint system. Children under age 13 should ride in the back seat position when it is practical to do so.

For more helpful tips, you're encouraged to visit safercar.gov.