Are we there yet? Many parents will be answering that question this summer as we buckle in the kids, load up the gear and set off on our summer vacations. Vehicle safety should play an important role in your summer vacation plans. Be sure to have a thorough safety inspection of your vehicle performed by a certified mechanic in advance of your trip. When on the road, make sure you allow enough time in your travel schedule to stop for breaks every few hours. Proper use of seat belts and car seats is the most important safety item on the list. Here are a few guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help make travel safer for you and your children this summer.
- Buckle up car seats and seat belts.
- Keep supplies with you, such as snacks, water, a first aid kit and any medicines your child takes.
- Always use a car seat, starting with your baby’s first ride home from the hospital. Help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions and always keep them with the car seat. Read your vehicle owner’s manual for more information on how to install the car seat.
- Put your child in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car because it is farthest away from a head-on crash (the most common type of crash).
- The harness system holds your child in the car seat and the seat belts hold the seat in the car. Attach both snugly to protect your child.
- Children in rear-facing car seats should never be placed in a front seat equipped with an air bag.
- Children traveling alone to visit relatives or attend summer camp should have a copy of their medical information with them at all times.
