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How to Keep Your Family Safe in the Car

Car Safety Basics for the Family

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Stephanie Tombrello
Executive Director, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
http://www.carseat.org/   

SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. the national, non-profit organization dedicated to child passenger safety. Our mission is to help reduce the number of serious and fatal traffic injuries suffered by children by promoting the correct, consistent use of safety seats and safety belts.

Founded in 1980, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. is nationally recognized for program excellence, training, and up-to-date technical materials. We provide consultation to advocates, parents, business leaders, the media, and professionals working in the fields of health care, traffic safety, and education.

Stephanie M. Tombrello, L.C.S.W., Executive Director of SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., has been involved in child passenger safety since 1970. While shopping for a car seat for her infant daughter, she was shocked to learn that most of the models available in stores were unsafe. Stephanie and several other early pioneers in the field successfully petitioned the federal government to require crash testing for child restraints.  She also wrote the petition which resulted in the federal requirement for manufacturers to provide shoulder belts in the rear seats of all post-1989 passenger vehicles.


In 1980, Stephanie founded a grassroots organization in the Los Angeles area which evolved to become SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. Under her leadership, the organization has become the premier resource for child passenger safety in the nation. Stephanie is a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor and was appointed in 1995 to the National Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Restraint & Vehicle Compatibility.

Car Safety Basics for the Family

In this video, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. Executive Director Stephanie Tombrello describes car safety basics for the whole family. Using footage of dummies in car crashes, she describes the risks of not buckling up on every ride. She explains how to select the appropriate safety seat for a child and how to prevent injuries from air bags. The final segments include a one-minute car safety check and additional safety tips for the whole family.

This expert: 101,178 views

This series: 20,837 views

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<span>Stephanie Tombrello: Hello, I am Stephanie Tombrello, Executive Director of SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. We want everyone in your family to be buckled up properly, and so we are going to be talking about the best way for each person to ride.</span><span>Did you know that about 90% of safety seats are used incorrectly? Sometimes the misuse comes because of the fit between the seat and the car, and other times it has do with parents not understanding the best way to buckle up. Many people think that buckling up properly is only for small babies, but it's important that children stay rear-facing from birth until about two years old or until the highest weight on their convertible seat. That means, for most children, till about 30 to 35 pounds. </span><span>Next, we have the children who are forward facing, in a full harness. Following that comes the booster child. Boosters are for big kids! When a child can pass the 5-Step Test, it's time to look at how they fit in the safety belt. And, finally, all adults should be buckled up properly, including the pregnant woman.</span><span>Remember, one of the best ways to keep your child safe is to model the safe behavior yourself. Now, we have talked about the basics of keeping your family safe in the car. The next step is to understand why it's so important to buckle up your child properly on every ride. </span>

 

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