CAR SEATS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS — USING YOUR SEAT SAFELY

Be sure to read and understand the instructions for using your car safety seat. Each seat has its own recommendations for use and it is important to keep them with the seat. Check your seat before each trip to be sure it's installed correctly. To help further ensure your child's safety, keep these positioning guidelines in mind:

· Read the instructions for the car safety seat/restraint and your vehicle. Both sets of instructions will be necessary to make sure that your child is secure in the safety seat/restraint and the safety seat/restraint is correctly installed in your vehicle.

· Make sure that all harness adjustments are made according to instructions.

· Be sure that all harness straps are snug and flat against your child's body.

· Position plastic chest or harness retainer clips at armpit level to keep the harness straps over the shoulders.

· Never place anything under or behind your child in a car safety seat/restraint.

· You may place rolled blankets, foam or towels along each side of your child to keep him or her centered in the car safety seat.

· To help keep your child from sliding down in the seat, you may place a rolled cloth such as a washcloth or diaper between the crotch strap and your child's diaper area.

Medical Equipment

Some children must travel with devices such as apnea monitors, oxygen tanks, ventilators, walkers and crutches. Secure these in the vehicle so that they do not become flying objects in the event of a crash or sudden stop. At this time, there is no single product available to secure medical devices. Try wedging the equipment on the vehicle floor with pillows or securing it with seat belts not being used by a passenger. Make sure that any devices that use batteries have enough power for at least double the length of your trip.

Now that your child's safety seat is secure in the car and he or she is buckled in correctly, here are some guidelines for traveling about:

· The back seat is the safest place for all children to ride.

· Never put a rear-facing baby in front of a passenger air bag. In a crash, the air bag inflates very quickly and with great force. The child safety seat could be hit by the air bag and cause serious injuries or even death to the baby.

· If you have no other option than to transport a child who is medically fragile in the front seat and your car has a passenger air bag, you will need to have your air bag switched off. Contact the NHTSA for a permission form and details (1-888-DASH-2-DOT [1-888-327-4236] or www.nhtsa.dot.gov).

· Depending on your child's condition, it may be wise to limit the amount of car travel.

· Stop often if your trip is long.

· When possible, an adult should ride in the back seat next to your child to watch him or her closely.

· Develop a medical care plan in case your child has a medical emergency during travel.

· Some parents attach a copy of the plan to the child's car safety seat/restraint.

· Carry with you an emergency kit that includes any special medications or supplies that your child may need. A checklist will help you ensure that the right medications and supplies are always with you. Do not leave this kit in the vehicle.

· Keep a cellular phone with you to contact help, if needed. Some cellular phones can dial 911 even if you do not purchase a service contract.

· Never use a reclined vehicle seat to transport a child. In a crash, the child can slip out of position and not be protected by the seat belt.

· In some instances, such as very tall children in casts, professional transport may be needed.

· Apply for a handicap parking permit on behalf of your child if it is hard to get him or her in and out of the car safety restraint. Handicap parking often allows more space to maneuver.

· Never leave your child alone in a vehicle, even to do an errand that should only take a minute. Your child's safety is worth the effort to remove him or her from the car safety seat/restraint, take him or her with you, and then secure him or her again when you return.