Northwest Iowa — This is Child Passenger Safety Week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting Child Passenger Safety Week from September 20-26, 2020. The goal is to make sure your child is in the correct car seat, that it’s properly installed and used, and that it’s registered with its manufacturer to ensure you receive important safety updates.
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Nate Huizenga tells us about the Iowa Law that applies to child restraints.
But Huizenga says experts recommend going above and beyond the law.
Dr. Jessica Greenley at the Iowa Clinic says experts recommend children stay in rear-facing seats for as long as possible. Then, they recommend they stay in a front-facing seat with a harness until they exceed the weight limit of the seat. At that point, they should sit in a belt-positioning booster. Huizenga tells us the conditions that should be met before a child graduates to using only a seat belt.
Huizenga tells us officers commonly see child restraint seats misused.
You can find more information by calling your health provider. Many of them have people that will come out and check your seats. Or if they don’t, they will know who to call. Huizenga says you can even call the sheriff’s office and they’ll make sure you’re using the seats properly so your children are as safe as possible in the event of a collision.
