Child car seats are an effective and reliable way to protect your child from injury during a traffic accident.
For some parents, the price of a car seat may seem a little high, but the health or even the life of their own child is the most precious thing.
What are the car seats
Types of car seats
Baby car seats are used for children from birth to 12 years of age. But if the child is less than 150 cm tall and weighs 36 kg, then he should still be transported in the car seat.
According to statistics, road traffic accidents are the main cause of death of children aged 1 to 14 years. About 50% of those under 5 died in car accidents just because they were not wearing seat belts.
It should also be noted that almost 95% of children are fastened incorrectly by their parents during the trip.
All car seats are divided into groups according to the age and weight of the child.
Group 0. This includes babies from birth to 6 months. Child's weight up to 10 kg.
Group 0+. Children weighing up to 13 kg under the age of 1 year. Such children must be transported facing against the movement of the vehicle.
Group 1. Child weight from 9 to 18 kg, age from 9 months to 4 years. Children of this age can already be transported in the direction of travel.
Group 2. Child's weight is from 15 to 25 kg, age is 3–7 years. The child must be transported face-down in the direction of the vehicle.
Group 3. Children weighing from 22 to 36 kg, aged 6-12 years. Transport in the direction of travel.
The fact is that during a collision, the human body continues to move forward by inertia. A small child has a disproportionately large head, and the cervical vertebrae have not yet matured. During an accident, the neck can be injured if the child is carried face-down in the direction of the vehicle.
Mounting methods and the safest place in the car
In Europe, child car seats are attached to the vehicle in two ways.
The first method involves fastening with a standard three-point seat belt. Chairs with such a mount can be installed in almost any car, including domestic production.
True, for some models of child car seats, not all cars have a seat belt. The locks for fastening the car seat belt are also not located properly on all cars. The car seat should be installed strictly according to the instructions, otherwise irreparable injury may be inflicted on the child during an accident.
The disadvantage of securing the car seat with a three-point belt is the difficulty.
The second method of fastening is using the ISOFIX system, which is popular in Europe. Equipping domestic cars with such a system is still being planned. The ISOFIX system allows quick and easy installation of the car seat in the car, eliminating installation errors.
In America, the LATCH system (latch) is used, an analogue of the European ISOFIX.
Controversy continues over what is the safest place in the car. Some experts claim that the front is next to the driver.
But recent research has shown that the safest place in a car is in the rear middle. In any accident, it is always 16% safer than all the others.
It is advisable to install the child car seat in the middle, rear seat. This will maximize the protection of the child during a traffic accident.
