CAR SEAT BASICS

Child Passenger Safety Rules

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
  • Almost all cars and car seats made since September 2002 must have LATCH. LATCH locks a car seat into the vehicle without using the safety belts. Older cars and car seats may not have LATCH. Read your owner’s manual and car seat instructions to see if you can use LATCH. Both LATCH and safety belts provide the same protection. Use one or other, not both.
Never Leave Your Child Alone
  • A child in a parked vehicle can die of heatstroke in just a few minutes, even if the weather is mild. Kids can also release brakes, start cars and face other dangers. Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a few minutes, and keep the doors and trunk locked at all times so chil-dren can’t play inside. If you see a child unattended in a vehicle, call 911.
Trunk Entrapment
  • Newer cars have “glow in the dark” tags inside the trunks. Pulling the tag allows a trapped person to open the trunk. Children should know how to find and use the tag. Also, teach your children never to use the trunk of a car as a hiding place or play area.
Spot the Tot
  • Before you open the car door, take 30 seconds to look carefully for small children who may be under or behind your vehicle. Also, teach your children to play away from all vehicles, even parked ones.
Spotters’ Club
  • Children ages 4 to 8 ride on booster seats and have a clear view of people outside the car. Teach your child to “Spot the Tot” while walking to the car and to look for kids and parents who are buckled up, wearing bike helmets and using crosswalks.
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