Echoing longtime recommendations from CHOC Children’s and the American Academy of Pediatrics, children in California will soon be required to ride in rear-facing car seats until age 2, under new state legislation.
Set to go into effect in 2017, children are required to rear-face until age 2. The new law does not apply to children who weigh more than 40 pounds or are 40 inches or taller.
CHOC community educators, however, continue to recommend best practice for children and rear-facing seats.
Choosing the right car seat and installing it correctly can be confusing enough, but imagine the challenges that mount for families of children with special needs.
Traditional store-bought car seats may not work for children with certain conditions, and parents often must turn to specialty options that can be expensive with limited options.
CHOC Children’s would like to remind everyone never to leave a child alone in a vehicle. Despite public education, every year, children die from heat stroke or experience varying degrees of heat illness after being left unattended in a vehicle. Amy Frias, BS, CLEC, CPSTI, OC Safe Kids coordinator and community educator at CHOC Children’s, says that this summer alone 19 children died nationally – three of them from California. Moreover, she explains that these tragic incidents are 100 percent preventable!
Teens and Driving Safety
Even if you have a very responsible teen, the fact that they don’t have experience driving makes them a bigger risk. Driving is dangerous for all teens, and parents can require them to prove they are ready.
Child Passenger Safety
Car crashes are the No. 1 preventable cause of death of children and young adults. Learn the proper use of child restraints and seat belts.
Kids and Emergency Care
Children require special treatment, not just for their size, but also the equipment needed to treat their conditions with regards to emergency care.
