Kids today are safer than ever before, according to a 10-year
study by the CDC. Thanks in part to car safety. In young
children, it can make the difference between life and death.
“Hopefully everybody realizes that the car seats are absolutely
something that’s vital to use and it saves lives quite frankly,”
says Mark Tesoro, trauma analyst, with Lee Memorial Health
System. Car crashes remain the top killer of children in this
country, but fatal accidents involving youngsters dropped 41%
between 2000 and 2009. “Seat belt technology, the airbag
technology, the safety technology in general has improved. All
which contribute to the CDC numbers,” says Tesoro. Recent
changes in guidelines are aimed at lowering those rates even
more. It includes keeping babies in rear facing seats longer.
And restraining older children in booster seats based on their
size not age. “A child shouldn’t be sitting, as they graduate
out of a car seat, into a regular seat belt. They need to be 4’9
and 85 pounds,” says Tesoro. Some injury