Toddler death raises concern over car seat rules
Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., many can be prevented.
A Las Vegas family is devastated after their 3-year-old was killed in a crash on Monday, reports KTNV.com.
Emily Kay was killed when the car her father was driving was struck by an SUV. Las Vegas police say Emily was riding in a booster seat rather than a car seat with a built-in harness, reports KTNV.com. Her father, Casey Barringer is in critical condition.
"You should never put a child under 40 pounds in a backless booster seat that only uses the adult-sized safety belt as a restraint," Jeanne Cosgrove Marsala, the director of Safe Kids at Sunrise Children's Hospital was quoted. "You should keep a child in a car seat with an over-the-head harness for as long as possible."
More from MSN Living: 11 mom sayings it's okay to ditch
How can injuries to children in motor vehicles be prevented? Take a look at these child passenger safety facts:
In the U.S. during 2009, 1,314 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 179,000 were injured.
Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half.
Child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71 percent for infants, and by 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years.
According to researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, for children 4 to 7 years, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59 percent compared to seat belts alone.
Child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. One study found that 72 percent of nearly 3,500 observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.
More from MSN Living: The top 10 worst moments in mom judgment
"No one really realizes how quickly it can happen," Ashley Orr, Casey’s fiancé was quoted. "It happens in an instant, but the damage is permanent. Our little girl didn't make it. People need to realize that even one tiny mistake, can make all the difference."
Parents and caregivers, do you set a good example for your children and buckle up every time?
Bing: Alarming statistics on children and car accidents
More from the Family Room:
Library reconsiders ban on children
Districts look to beef up school safety with panic buttons
Love content like this? Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and find us on Pinterest
Photo: Ryan McVay/Getty Images
family: tips, trends & advice for all things family
-
9 Father’s Day gifts for first-time dads
Stumped on what to get the new dad this year? Check out these fun gifts that will make any guy feel appreciated for all that diaper changing this Father’s Day.
-
The best advice my dad ever gave me
Nesties share their favorite bits of wisdom and encouragement from dear ol’ dad.
-
5 amazing, inspiring dads
Dads can be pretty darn great -- doing everything from changing dirty diapers at 3 a.m., to running triathlons for their kid. These five heartwarming stories are just a few more reminders of how awesome fathers can be.
-
Men tell all: 8 changes to marriage every new dad should expect
Some of our favorite new dads got really honest about what's changed in their marriages since their babies were born. In short? A whole lot.
-
Should you train your cat to use the toilet?
It’s not just a Meet the Parents scene. The Litter Kwitter's creator says it takes less time to toilet train a cat than a child.
-
The top 11 ironies of motherhood
Motherhood. It’s the most amazing, most confusing journey of your life. But it also comes with its fair share of ironies. Like, oh, baby is finally sleeping through the night, but it’s in your bed. Or the fact that you just bought baby a whole new slew of pacifiers, but baby now hates his paci.
-
7 great Father’s Day gifts under $100
Whether he’s a gadgets guy or a little more rustic, it’s time to spoil Dad -- without spending too much cash.
-
15 things moms overshare on Facebook
The ugly truth: everyone overshares on Facebook. But, in the world of T.M.I., moms just might take the cake. Instances of mom-overshares on Facebook are rampant, not only within our personal Facebook newsfeeds but also referenced all over the web on sites like babble.com, today.com/moms, stfuparentsblog.com, imom.com, nickmom.com, huffingtonpost.com and more. Listen, we're all for baby news and sweet/funny updates about the kids, but it's the OVERsharing that sometimes makes us squirm. Here are a few things you should rethink how you share, from one mom to another...
-
10 products every cat lover needs
In honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, we're thinking outside the (litter)box and sharing our favorite must-haves.
-
Totally free fun!
Long days, curling waves, flashing fireflies—Mother Nature provides lots of summer fun absolutely free. But we've found her some competition this year. These giveaways and too-good-to-be-true freebies will keep you and your wallet on vacation all the way to fall.
-
The 10 Commandments of Fatherhood
Fatherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual—we all learn as we go—but here are 10 important lessons for every father to keep in mind as he guides his children through life.
-
20 Pinterest crafting 'fails'
Oh, Pinterest. We love you, we hate you. You inspire us, and you make us feel terribly lame at the same time. But what we always love, without a fault, is finding examples of people who have tried, and failed, to create a Pinterest-inspired work of art. With that, our fave 'fails.' Original Pinterest inspirations on the left, crafting fails on the right - away we go… By Gina Cohen and Charyn Pfeuffer, MSN Living
