SPECIAL  ALERT
Safe Kids USA's Response to the Insurance Institute for
HighwaySafety Booster Seat Study

Special Message from Torine Brooks
Chief Program  Officer and Director of SKBU
Safe Kids USA

Dear Coordinator,

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issued a report today questioning how much booster seats improve seat belt fit.  We know that booster seats save lives. We also know that kids come in all shapes and  sizes and not every seat will fit every kid.

Instead of stating that clearly, the message this report sends is that 13 of the 41 boosters IIHS tested were rated as “not recommended.” We should use this report to remind parents of the importance of proper fit when it comes to boosters and seat belts.  We expect coalitions to get calls from their local media looking for
advice.

Please use the information and tips below as a guide. This is also posted on the Safe Kids USA Web site.

Questions

If you have any questions on the Safe Kids  response to this study, please contact Lorrie Walker lwalker@safekids.org  or 202-577-1461.

Booster Seats are Not-One-Size-Fits-All
Parents Must Find the Right Fit for  Their Child

Booster seats are a proven way to help keep kids safer in vehicles. In fact, for children 4 to 7 years old, booster seats  reduce injury risk by 59 percent compared to seat belts alone,  according to researchers at the Children's Hospital of  Philadelphia.

But a report released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has questioned if certain booster seats provide  children with a better fit than others. Kids come in all shapes and sizes, and not all boosters will fit all children the same way.  There are no“good” seats and “bad” seats as the IIHS list might  suggest—all meet the government standard in crash tests. But booster  seats are not designed to be one-size-fits-all. The different  variations in boosters allow parents to find the right fit for each  child.

It’s All About Fit

Parents and caregivers should not panic and they should continue  to use booster seats for their children on every ride. However,  there are a few simple steps parents can take to make sure a child’s booster fits the correct way. Safety belts are  designed for adults and many children are too small to get a proper  fit without using a booster seat. Most children who have outgrown  their toddler seats but are still under 4 feet 9 inches tall and less than 80 pounds will be safest using a booster seat.

Take this easy fit test with your child to determine if  a booster seat fits your child:
* Place your child on the booster seat and fasten the lap and shoulder seat belts around the child.
* Use the seat belt guides on the booster seat for the lap and shoulder belts.
* Check to be sure the lap belt rests on the top of the thighs or low on the hips.
* Check to be sure the shoulder belt is positioned on the bony shoulder - not the neck or face.  Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.
If the shoulder belt and lap belt are on the child as stated above, the booster seat will work as designed to protect your child  in a crash.  If not, try another brand until you find the one that fits your child. Fortunately, there are lots of choices.

If you’re confused or would like a certified child passenger safety technician to evaluate your child, go to www.usa.safekids.org/  to contact your local Safe Kids
coalition by clicking on “find  coalitions and events near you.”