Child Safety Seats Important to Your Child’s Health

Child Safety Experts “Beterem” Offer Guidelines

ý  Make sure the seat is suitable to the child’s age, weight and height.

ý  Make sure the seat has an acceptable safety rating (US: FMVSS213, Europe: ECER44-03/04, or the Israel’s Ministry of Transportation’s official seal.)

ý  Check that the seat is comfortable for the child and for your use.

ý  Check to see that the date of the seat’s production (it usually can be found on the back of the seat or under it, and that the date is recent.

ý  Before purchasing the seat, try it out in your car, to be sure it can be safely fastened into your seats.  For example, make sure that the base of the safety seat sits squarely on the vehicle seat, and does not overhang the front or the sides of the seat.  Some safety seats can be fastened simply with the shoulder seat beat (not only with a lap belt.) 

Additional Recommendations about Infant Seats

Infant seats are placed facing toward the rear.  Make sure the seat is fastened with the shoulder belt.

Additional Recommendations about Toddler Seats

Toddler seats are placed facing forward.  Make sure the harness is fastened high enough on the torso of the child.

Recommendations about Booster Seats

ý  Booster seats are used to make the car seat belts fit children aged 4 to 6 better.  The best booster seats have a clip or adapter that adjusts the shoulder belt to hit the child on the chest, not at the neck.

ý  If your car does not have headrests in the back seats, choose a high-back booster seat that will provide neck and head support for the child.

ý  Select a booster seat that your child can use until he weighs 36 kilograms.

General Rules of Thumb about Child Safety Seats

ý  Use the seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions and according to your car’s manual.

ý  It is important to know that the back seat is the safer place to put your child.

ý  Before each trip, check to see that the safety seat is firmly fastened to the car’s seat, so the safety seat cannot be shifted more than 2.5 mm in any direction.  Take note!  Some seats require an accessory that is used to lock the shoulder belt and ensure that the safety seat cannot move.  Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully!

ý  Before each trip be sure that the seat harness or seat belt is firmly fastened, snug to the body of the child.  Ideally, you should be able to insert only one finger between the child and the belt.

For further information contact the office of "Beterem Hadassah":

 beterem@hadassah.org.il

Or telephone02-6778897

Or see the website http://www.beterem.org