Child and car: How to transport children in a car
On a trip, winter clothing on a toddler can cost him his life.
Parents-motorists know: if a child is in the car, he must sit in a special chair. At least until he turns 12. Otherwise, the fine is 3 thousand rubles. Although it is not the monetary punishment that is worse, but the consequences to which the absence of a child seat can lead.
However, even the safest car seat that scored the best in crash tests can become useless if the child is riding in a down jacket or other outer clothing. The jacket on the child creates an imaginary volume, which is why you do not fasten the seat belts so tightly. Check it out for yourself: sit and fix your baby in a down jacket, and then remove the outerwear. The straps of the chair will simply dangle. 10 centimeters – this is how much seat belts sag on average if a child is wearing a down jacket.
These data are cited by American scientists from the Institute of Transportation Research at the University of Michigan. They also conducted a crash test. Two child seats were installed in the back seat. In one, the mannequin was fastened according to all the rules, in the other, the straps were loosened by the same 10 centimeters. As a result, during the collision, the head of the second doll was thrown forward by almost 11 centimeters, compared to the head of the second dummy, which almost did not twitch.
Why are these centimeters dangerous? Serious injuries to the neck, head and chest. After all, a child is likely to hit the back of the front seat. The straps can even slip off the shoulders, and the baby will simply fly out of the chair in an accident. This already threatens with more sad consequences.
Car seat manufacturers warn: winter jackets, overalls, baby envelopes – all this in a car is dangerous for a child. This also includes the earbuds that are not included with the child seat. For example, from down, bought to keep the baby warm and comfortable. In addition, the child wrapped up from head to toe in the car will simply sweat and overheat.
By the way, in America and Canada, meticulous road inspectors constantly check how children are fastened in the car. They prohibit carrying a child in a jacket.
Well, so that your child does not catch a cold in a cold car, warm up the transport, and only then take off the baby’s outerwear. For the trip, dress your child in 2-4 layers of thick, not thick clothing. Fleece items are perfect, as well as thermal underwear, which are quite thin, while retaining heat and absorbing moisture. From above, you can wrap the child with a blanket, but only over the seat belts.
6 more rules for safe road travel
1. Statistically, the safest place to install a car seat is in the rear center seat.
2. You can also transport children in a carrycot or a child seat in the front seat. However, be sure to deactivate the airbag first. Once triggered, it can seriously harm the child.
3. It is prohibited to carry children in the booster in the front seat.
4. You can use the booster only when the child is three years old. At the same time, a small passenger must weigh at least 15 kilograms and be at least 120 centimeters tall. In general, if possible, carry your baby in a child seat – it is much safer than a booster.
5. Carrycots with children under one year old and weighing up to 9,5 kilograms must be installed against the movement – that is, the child is turned to face the rear window. In the event of an accident, when the baby sits in the direction of travel, his head, which is still heavy relative to the body, can jerk sharply forward by inertia. This will severely damage the spine or even be fatal.
6. If the child tries to unfasten the seat belts, buy a special blocking on ebay or aliexpress (in the search engine – “latch”, “harness”, “clip”). The price of the issue is from 150 rubles. A penny that will save the life of the child, as well as your nerve cells.