A car accident is something that no one wants to experience. But one thing that can make this situation even worse is if your kids are in the car with you.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to help minimize the chances of you and your children getting injured in a car accident. To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to protect your kids from injury during a car accident.
Buckle Kids In The Middle
One of the most dangerous things for a kid in a car accident is being hit by airbags. Especially in a minor car accident, airbags can often be more harmful than helpful.
To protect your children from this possibility, it’s wise to buckle your kids in the middle of the back seat rather than on the sides. According to Stanford Children’s Health, the middle seat in the back seat is the safest place for you to put your children. However, if you can’t put them in the middle, just being in the backseat is going to be much safer than sitting in the front. And, on the off chance that your child does need to sit in the front seat, make sure you have the capability to turn off the airbags while they’re in that seat.
Seat Your Child In The Right Car Seat
In addition to having your child sit in the right seat while in the car, they also need to be using the right car seat in the car as well.
The CDC shares that depending on the height, weight, and age of your child, they either need to be sitting in a car seat or booster seat. From birth to age 2, you should keep your child in a rear-facing car seat. Between the ages of 2 and 5, a forward-facing car seat will be safest for your child. And once your child turns 5, they should remain in a booster seat until they’re big enough to sit in a normal seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Wear Seat Belts Correctly
Speaking of properly wearing seat belts, you and your children should always wear your seatbelts properly whenever the vehicle is in motion.
To know when your child is big enough to wear a normal seat belt, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that your child needs to be able to keep their back against the seat, have their knees naturally bent over the edge of the seat, and have their feet flat on the floor. In addition to this, the lap belt should also cross their upper thighs and the shoulder belt should be able to sit across their chest and shoulder.
If you want to give your children the best chance of survival after being in a car accident, consider using the information mentioned above to help you know how to protect them from injury.
