By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
Everyone knows the point of a child's car seat is to keep them safe. But if you don't install it the right way, it could be this very seat that harms your child's life.
Alicia Ellington has plenty of precious cargo in her car everyday of the week. And making sure her six kids are properly buckled up in the backseat, can sometimes be a chore.
"Yea usually I'm rushing. We have to get them to school. I have to get to work," said Ellington.
But it's that extra second, just double check the car seats are in properly in place that can make all the difference.
"I think one thing as parents, they get in a hurry, so we fail to take time to check the car seat and see if it's tight," said Karin Ward, registered nurse at Mercy Medical Center, in Sioux City.
For ten years in a row now, Ward has been helping families learn how to properly install car seats. Something we may think is simple but...
"Car seats are very different, on how they go in to a vehicle, and it varies on the type of a vehicle and it depends on the type of car seat, so they are pretty complicated, and a lot of people do feel embarrassed," said Ward.
But it's better to learn the right way to do it, then to think you're doing it the right way.
"Just to make sure it was in right. Apparently it wasn't so I'm kind of glad I stopped," said Kimberly Johnson, of Sioux City.
"I guess I didn't think there was some many things to look for when you're putting your kids in the car," said Ellington.
One tip a lot of parents may not know is it's best to have your child in their cars eats without heavy winter coats on, so they are as close to the harness as possible.
Car seat recommendations are always changing so it's important to keep an eye on all the latest information. So you can be sure to have peace of mind before you pull away.
If you miss this event you may call 279-6377 to schedule an appointment to have your child safety seat checked.
