Airbags are designed to save lives. However, when a child’s bag is installed there can be dangers that make them less safe for driving or even just playing around in the car interior with friends who have their own bags installed.
Airbags are a great way to protect teenagers and adults from injury in car accidents; however, they can be very dangerous for children. Children who ride rear-facing seats or those under the age of six should not have an airbag deployed because it could cause them serious harm if there’s any mistake during the deployment process which results in death.
Car seats are important for any vehicle with a front passenger airbag, especially if the infant will be riding in the back. The bag can inflation and cause serious injury or death due to its proximity toward infants who may not even realize what’s happening around them until it is too late.
You should never try to transport children in the back of a car without protection. The airbag is turned off when there’s only one passenger, but if you need room for someone else it can be gotten around with by turning off your hazard lights and letting other drivers know that they may come across an obstacle while driving on their journey too.
The side airbags in your car are there to keep you safe. They’re an easy way for adults who were struck by vehicles on their sides like drivers and passengers might be injured or even killed if they weren’t wearing a seatbelt (and those accident statistics show this can happen). So before turning off that engine mid-driveway conversation with friends just remember – when it comes down to choosing between saving yourself some trouble now vs worrying about what could go wrong later make sure everyone has chosen wisely.
Keeping your children safe is our top priority. The following information will help you do that:
- The back seat is the safest place for all infants and children younger than 13 years.
- The importance of properly securing children in car seats can not be overstated. All kids should get a good fit for their age and size, so that they are as safe while traveling with you as possible.
- The best way to protect your baby is by making sure they are in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible or until the highest weight/ height limit for their safety seat.
- The forward-facing car seat is a must for any child who has outgrown their rear-facing weight or height limit. It’s important to use this type of safety gear until they reach maximum capacity, which can be found on most manufacturers’ websites.
- If your child is taller than 4 feet 9 inches or heavy enough to require an extra ride upfront, it’s time for them to use belt-positioning boosters. These devices can help you stay safe while traveling by keeping belts properly positioned so they don’t rub against any sensitive areas of your skin.
- When children grow up and can safely use a seat belt on their own, it is important that they utilize lap/shoulder belts.
Tips for parents:
- It’s a good idea to buckle your child up in the back seat every time you take them for a ride.
- When you drive with more children than can be safely restrained in the back seat, it is important to plan ahead. Make sure that all passengers are wearing their safety belts and seated properly before closing up tightly around them.
- The installation of an air bag on/off switch is not necessary for most families. Air bags that are turned off provide no protection to older children, teens, or adults riding in the front seat.
- When using an airbag, it is important to remember that the switch should only be turned on if your child has special health care needs for which their pediatrician recommends constant observation during travel and no other adult is available.
- It is never a good idea to put an older child in the front seat of any vehicle. Make sure they are restrained properly and that you keep their age under consideration when making this decision, as it can be dangerous for them if there’s no protection against injuries from airbags or other automatic safety features like speed limiters which reduce impact force during collisions by slowing down car speeds before impacts (this doesn’t apply however since almost all new cars have these). The backseat will always offer more peace-of-driver comfort than either side here!
Source:
- Air Bag Safety for Children https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Air-Bag-Safety.aspx Adapted from Car Safety Seats Guide (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information on this site is not a substitute for medical care and advice from your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that he or she recommends based on individual facts, circumstances or personal preference you have as an adult who is now taking responsibility of caring for another life stage alongside their own childhoods!
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