We may be in the business of remarketing vehicles, but safety is always our top concern. We work to get older, less safe vehicles off the road. We choose business partners who hold high operational and safety standards. We choose charity partners that work for the safety and health of people all over the world. We care for the safety of our customers, partners and the world around us, especially when it comes to children and their families.
It should be no surprise then that we’re pointing out yesterday was SAFE KIDS DAY Worldwide; a day marked to celebrate kids, prevent injuries and save lives. We know kids are going to trip over their friends and their own feet, crash their skateboards and bicycles, fall out of trees and off their swing sets, and receive a host of other daily (hopefully always minor) injuries…just because they’re kids. At my daughter’s annual physical, her pediatrician looked closely at her shins for bruises. When she saw a lot of them, she told me that was a good thing because it meant my daughter was doing a good job at being a kid.
While we can’t stop them from being kids, nor do we want to, it’s our job as parents and adults to protect them from serious injuries. You might be surprised to know that motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.1 According to SAFEKIDS.org, 71% of vehicle-related deaths can be prevented simply by selecting, installing and using the right car seat.
Engineers around the world are working hard to make sure that car seats are designed to keep children traveling in vehicles safe. In the US, there are federal safety standards in place to protect children in vehicles from birth through 13 years. And although every parent wants their child to be as safe as possible, even the most stringent laws are useless unless parents have a properly installed car seat. A 2013 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey found that one in five parents don’t read any instructions when installing seats, yet 90% of them feel very confident the seats are installed properly2. It’s not difficult to install restraint systems, but it is exact.
There are three steps to ensuring your child is getting maximum protection from their restrain system:
1. Select the right car seat for your child based on age, weight, and height. If you’re unsure about which type of car seat you need, ask your pediatrician or local police for professional advice based on state guidelines. You can also visit The Governors Highway Safety Association at www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.htmlfor specific guidelines by state.
2. Properly install your car seat. Call your local police station to schedule an appointment to have your car seat installed by a professionally trained officer. Or search the web for local car seat installation events. If you prefer to do it on your own, read the instructions that came with your car seat, or you can watch an installation video at www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/How-To-Install-Car-Seats.htm. It never hurts to have a professional check your installation. It takes only a minute.
3. Register your car seat. Simply complete and mail the card that came with your car seat, or visit the manufacturer’s website to complete registration online. This will allow the manufacturer to contact you about recalls which they are required to do. If you should get a recall notice, get it fixed right away…for your child’s sake.
GET IT CHECKED
If you’re among the 90% of people who are confident you installed your child’s car seat properly, you’ll really enjoy getting that pat on the back after a professional checks it out and confirms your abilities. However, if there’s even the slightest adjustment necessary, or recently issued recall you don’t know about yet, every time you look at your child you’ll be glad you took the time to get it looked at.
About ARS
Advanced Remarketing Services offers innovative solutions to some of the remarketing industry’s toughest questions. We navigate the confusing landscape of wholesale, salvage and consumer markets to sell the vehicles in the best venue to the most appropriate buyer base.
References
1 CDC. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System [online]. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [2011 Sept 30].
2 NHTSA Press Release 07-13, Wednesday, April 3, 2013, Contact: Karen Aldana, 202-366-9550