Tulsa Safe Kids Seat Giveaway A Big Success

The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Vehicle accidents are a common thing, but deadly injuries, especially in children, shouldn't be. That's why "Safe Kids Tulsa" offered a free car seat safety check.

The organization gave away 137 free car seats to help parents insure their child's safety the next time they go for a drive.

"It's very reassuring that I know my car seats going to be in the correction position from now on," said Ayrahel Ores, mother of two.

The car seat giveaway was part of the "National Seat Check Saturday" sponsored by Safe Kids Tulsa and State Farm Insurance. English and Spanish speaking certified child passenger safety technicians were on hand to help install car seats and booster seats at North Pointe Center, 205 E. Pine St.

Parents and caregivers should follow a few basic guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protective their children in a vehicle:

• For the best possible protect, keep infants in a back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible - up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. Never turn a child forward-facing before age 1 and at least 20 pounds, although keeping kids rear-facing until age 2 is safer and preferred if the seat allows.
• When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in a back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular harnessed seat. Many newer seats exceed the old 40-pound weight limit.
• Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride on booster seats, in a back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.
• Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs, the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collar bone and the knees bend naturally at the seat's edge. This is usually when the child is between 8 and 12 years old, about 4'9" tall and 80 to 100 pounds.