Casperman
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What are parents thinking!!! (rant)
- Thread starter Lillys dad
- Start date
Pint-size passengers get a boost starting today
By Kim Bell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Aug. 27 2006
ST. LOUIS
Busy parents who already have back-to-school chaos to deal with have another - albeit more serious - deadline today: putting their kids up to age 8 in a car booster seat.
This is the first day for Missouri's new law requiring children who have outgrown a car seat to ride in a booster until the child is 8 years old, weighs 80 pounds, or is 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Some police say those violating the law will probably be given warnings for the first month. Fines will be $50, plus court costs.
"When a child is in a booster seat, obviously they don't like it, but they'll get used to it," said St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope, whose two youngest children are covered by the new law. "My gosh, it's certainly not a difficult chore. If it saves one child, it's worth it."
The previous law allowed kids older than 4 to ride in cars using seat belts alone. But, in a crash, seat belts designed for bigger bodies can put tremendous pressure on a child's tender stomach and dig into their necks, hospital workers say.
Dr. Robert Kregenow, who works in the emergency room at St. Louis Children's Hospital, listed some of the car-crash injuries he's seen to kids who were wearing only a seat belt.
"Liver lacerations, injuries to the bowel and pancreas, fractured spine," he said. "Booster seats were out there, they exist, it just wasn't the law. The public just isn't aware of the potential injuries."
Gov. Matt Blunt signed the booster law in June. Missouri joins 37 other states with such laws covering children who have outgrown a car seat but are too small to use a vehicle's seat belt system. Illinois' booster law went into effect in 2004.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injury to children ages 4 through 8 in the United States.
In Missouri, more than 1,500 children in that age range were injured and nearly a dozen more died in traffic-related accidents in 2004, according to state statistics. Of these fatalities, only one child was reported to have used a child safety restraint, Kregenow said.
The price of a booster seat starts at around $15. The idea of the booster is to raise the child up and get the lap portion of the seat belt against the child's hip bones, so they can take the brunt of the force in a crash. The booster also directs the shoulder strap across the center of the child's shoulder rather than letting it run against the neck.
On Saturday in Forest Park, St. Louis Children's Hospital, as part of its Get on Board with Child Safety event, gave away about 320 booster seats and sold about 80 more at a reduced price.
Cindy Harrison, who lives in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, has kept her daughter Maria, 7, in a proper car seat all these years because she is so small. Maria, who stands just 41 inches tall and weighs 39 pounds, thought car seats were for babies and gave her mom static. "I'm a big girl," she'd tell her mother. "I don't need it."
Harrison always won those battles but welcomes the new law because it backs her up when Maria balks.
Parents who missed out on getting a free booster seat can contact Children's Hospital for a car seat at a discounted price by calling 314-454-5437. The hospital schedules several car-safety checkpoints throughout the year, including seven in the next eight weeks.
STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County
By Kim Bell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Aug. 27 2006
ST. LOUIS
Busy parents who already have back-to-school chaos to deal with have another - albeit more serious - deadline today: putting their kids up to age 8 in a car booster seat.
This is the first day for Missouri's new law requiring children who have outgrown a car seat to ride in a booster until the child is 8 years old, weighs 80 pounds, or is 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Some police say those violating the law will probably be given warnings for the first month. Fines will be $50, plus court costs.
"When a child is in a booster seat, obviously they don't like it, but they'll get used to it," said St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope, whose two youngest children are covered by the new law. "My gosh, it's certainly not a difficult chore. If it saves one child, it's worth it."
The previous law allowed kids older than 4 to ride in cars using seat belts alone. But, in a crash, seat belts designed for bigger bodies can put tremendous pressure on a child's tender stomach and dig into their necks, hospital workers say.
Dr. Robert Kregenow, who works in the emergency room at St. Louis Children's Hospital, listed some of the car-crash injuries he's seen to kids who were wearing only a seat belt.
"Liver lacerations, injuries to the bowel and pancreas, fractured spine," he said. "Booster seats were out there, they exist, it just wasn't the law. The public just isn't aware of the potential injuries."
Gov. Matt Blunt signed the booster law in June. Missouri joins 37 other states with such laws covering children who have outgrown a car seat but are too small to use a vehicle's seat belt system. Illinois' booster law went into effect in 2004.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injury to children ages 4 through 8 in the United States.
In Missouri, more than 1,500 children in that age range were injured and nearly a dozen more died in traffic-related accidents in 2004, according to state statistics. Of these fatalities, only one child was reported to have used a child safety restraint, Kregenow said.
The price of a booster seat starts at around $15. The idea of the booster is to raise the child up and get the lap portion of the seat belt against the child's hip bones, so they can take the brunt of the force in a crash. The booster also directs the shoulder strap across the center of the child's shoulder rather than letting it run against the neck.
On Saturday in Forest Park, St. Louis Children's Hospital, as part of its Get on Board with Child Safety event, gave away about 320 booster seats and sold about 80 more at a reduced price.
Cindy Harrison, who lives in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, has kept her daughter Maria, 7, in a proper car seat all these years because she is so small. Maria, who stands just 41 inches tall and weighs 39 pounds, thought car seats were for babies and gave her mom static. "I'm a big girl," she'd tell her mother. "I don't need it."
Harrison always won those battles but welcomes the new law because it backs her up when Maria balks.
Parents who missed out on getting a free booster seat can contact Children's Hospital for a car seat at a discounted price by calling 314-454-5437. The hospital schedules several car-safety checkpoints throughout the year, including seven in the next eight weeks.
STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County
Lillys dad
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Dream deaf, You know the accident that I am talking about. Absolutely horrible. It all could have been avoided.
Why not make it simple? One type of a car seat for the whole state and I mean statewide, man and it has to be the best, most safest and most reliable car seat that would best save lives in the event of an car accident? That way it ends any confusion and there will be no more excuses for not putting on a car seat and snap the seatbelt on. I am sure the death rate and injuries chart would go way down for the first year then the graph bar with the red lined arrow would go down some more year after year saving un-told millions of lives. What do you think ?
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- Joined
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- 10
To me, $100 is a lot of money...
Lilly's dad,
Why can't the law raise fine penalty to $100 or more than $25? It would make all parents buy child safety seat or booster. ?
Lillys dad
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Heath, It is nearly impossible to make a standard seat for kids/babies. There are way to many variables. For example, we are all aware of the obiesity problems in this country. This has creeped into car seats also. The seat has to fit the baby. It is not uncommon for p[arents to have to use a seat for an older/bigger kid because the baby is overweight. This leads to issues with seats for kids of different ages. If you made one seat for all, a 2 1/2 year old kid would need a much bigger seat than a newborn. It would be damned near impossible to SAFELY put a newborn in a seat that can hold a toddler. Along th elines on newborns, the newborn seat has to be rear facing. In a rear facing seat, the baby will absorb a high % of the impact force on the top of their shoulders. The rear facing seat puts the kid in an almost laying down position. Because of this, in an accident, the momentum tends to slide the baby towards the front of the car on their backs. Thihs force, causes the baby to absorb their weight on the top of their shoulders. Their bodies are not developed enough to take the impact across the chest, like what would happen in a forward facing car seat for an older kid.
Now we can get into seaet belts. There are many, many different types and configurations of seat belts in use on the US hiways. I can think of 10 different one right off the top of my head. In order to have one car seat for every age/situation, you would have to have a seat that could fit into EVERY seatbelt configuration in existance. That simply is not possible. Even if it was, could you imagine how much it would cost? It would cost a fortune due to all of the research and development necessary to create such a universal seat. Then there would be the expense of all of the light weight but strong materials needed to make the seat.
How could you have a car seat that must be capable of rear facing an over weight newborn with some disability that prevents him from being buckled in a normal fashion into the center of the rear bench seat of a 69 chevy impala, while still being capable of being strapped into the right seat of a Ford GT where the seat belt is a 5 point racing harness?
Is this a stretch? Yes. But is it necessary to have seats capable of doing both of these? Of course.
1 seat that does all is simply not possible. Hell, in the 2 1/2 years of Lillys life, we have purchased at least 8 different car seats for her.
Now we can get into seaet belts. There are many, many different types and configurations of seat belts in use on the US hiways. I can think of 10 different one right off the top of my head. In order to have one car seat for every age/situation, you would have to have a seat that could fit into EVERY seatbelt configuration in existance. That simply is not possible. Even if it was, could you imagine how much it would cost? It would cost a fortune due to all of the research and development necessary to create such a universal seat. Then there would be the expense of all of the light weight but strong materials needed to make the seat.
How could you have a car seat that must be capable of rear facing an over weight newborn with some disability that prevents him from being buckled in a normal fashion into the center of the rear bench seat of a 69 chevy impala, while still being capable of being strapped into the right seat of a Ford GT where the seat belt is a 5 point racing harness?
Is this a stretch? Yes. But is it necessary to have seats capable of doing both of these? Of course.
1 seat that does all is simply not possible. Hell, in the 2 1/2 years of Lillys life, we have purchased at least 8 different car seats for her.
Okay Lilly's Dad, I see, it does make sense. Here is something my mom sent to me and I thought this was very revelant, especially on this topic .... I got this in my e-mail and that is something to think about the seatbelt/child booster safety issue ......
----------
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
>>
>> They said had run the light
>>
>> That caused the six-car pileup
>>
>> On 109 that night.
>>
>>
>>
>> When broken bodies lay about
>>
>> And blood was everywhere,
>>
>> The sirens screamed out eulogies,
>>
>> For death was in the air.
>>
>>
>>
>> A mother, trapped inside her car,
>>
>> Was heard above the noise;
>>
>> Her plaintive plea near split the air:
>>
>> Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
>>
>>
>> She fought to loosen her pinned hands;
>> She struggled to get free,
>>
>> But mangled metal held her fast
>>
>> In grim captivity.
>>
>> ..
>>
>> Her frightened eyes then focused
>>
>> On where the back seat once had been,
>>
>> But all she saw was broken glass and
>>
>> Two children's seats crushed in.
>>
>>
>>
>> Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
>>
>> She did not hear them cry,
>>
>> And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
>>
>> Oh, God, don't let them die!"
>>
>>
>>
>> Then firemen came and cut her loose,
>>
>> But when they searched the back,
>> They found therein no little boys,
>>
>> But the seat belts were intact.
>>
>>
>>
>> They thought the woman had gone mad
>>
>> And was travelling alone,
>>
>> But when they turned to question her,
>>
>> They discovered she was gone.
>>
>>
>>
>> Policemen saw her running wild
>>
>> And screaming above the noise
>>
>> In beseeching supplication,
>>
>> "Please help me find my boys!
>>
>>
>>
>> They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
>>
>> Their jeans are blue to match."
>>
>> One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
>>
>> And they don't have a scratch.
>>
>>
>>
>> They said their daddy put them there
>>
>> And gave them each a cone,
>>
>> Then told them both to wait for Mom
>>
>> To come and take them home.
>>
>> I've searched the area high and low,
>> But I can't find their dad.
>>
>> He must have fled the scene,
>>
>> I guess, and that is very bad."
>>
>>
>>
>> The mother hugged the twins and said,
>>
>> While wiping at a tear,
>>
>> "He could not flee the scene, you see,
>>
>> For he's been dead a year."
>>
>>
>>
>> The cop just looked confused and asked,
>>
>> "Now, how can that be true?"
>>
>> The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
>>
>> And left a kiss for you."
>>
>>
>>
>> He told us not to worry
>>
>> And that you would be all right,
>>
>> And then he put us in this car with
>>
>> The pretty, flashing light.
>>
>>
>>
>> We wanted him to stay with us,
>>
>> Because we miss him so,
>>
>> But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
>>
>> And said he had to go.
>>
>>
>>
>> He said someday we'd understand
>>
>> And told us not to fuss,
>>
>> And he said to tell you, Mommy,
>>
>> He's watching over us."
>>
>>
>>
>> The mother knew without a doubt
>>
>> That what they spoke was true,
>>
>> For she recalled their dad's last words,
>>
>> "I will watch over you."
>>
>>
>> The firemen's notes could not explain
>>
>> The twisted, mangled car,
>>
>> And how the three of them escaped
>>
>> Without a single scar.
>>
>>
>>
>> But on the cop's report was scribed,
>>
>> In print so very fine,
>>
>> An angel walked the beat tonight
>> On Highway 109.
>>
>> Pass this message to 7 people.
>>
>> You will receive a miracle tomorrow, and may it be
>>
>> really wonderful for you
>>
>>
>> [Original message attached...]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
----------
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
>>
>> They said had run the light
>>
>> That caused the six-car pileup
>>
>> On 109 that night.
>>
>>
>>
>> When broken bodies lay about
>>
>> And blood was everywhere,
>>
>> The sirens screamed out eulogies,
>>
>> For death was in the air.
>>
>>
>>
>> A mother, trapped inside her car,
>>
>> Was heard above the noise;
>>
>> Her plaintive plea near split the air:
>>
>> Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
>>
>>
>> She fought to loosen her pinned hands;
>> She struggled to get free,
>>
>> But mangled metal held her fast
>>
>> In grim captivity.
>>
>> ..
>>
>> Her frightened eyes then focused
>>
>> On where the back seat once had been,
>>
>> But all she saw was broken glass and
>>
>> Two children's seats crushed in.
>>
>>
>>
>> Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
>>
>> She did not hear them cry,
>>
>> And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
>>
>> Oh, God, don't let them die!"
>>
>>
>>
>> Then firemen came and cut her loose,
>>
>> But when they searched the back,
>> They found therein no little boys,
>>
>> But the seat belts were intact.
>>
>>
>>
>> They thought the woman had gone mad
>>
>> And was travelling alone,
>>
>> But when they turned to question her,
>>
>> They discovered she was gone.
>>
>>
>>
>> Policemen saw her running wild
>>
>> And screaming above the noise
>>
>> In beseeching supplication,
>>
>> "Please help me find my boys!
>>
>>
>>
>> They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
>>
>> Their jeans are blue to match."
>>
>> One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
>>
>> And they don't have a scratch.
>>
>>
>>
>> They said their daddy put them there
>>
>> And gave them each a cone,
>>
>> Then told them both to wait for Mom
>>
>> To come and take them home.
>>
>> I've searched the area high and low,
>> But I can't find their dad.
>>
>> He must have fled the scene,
>>
>> I guess, and that is very bad."
>>
>>
>>
>> The mother hugged the twins and said,
>>
>> While wiping at a tear,
>>
>> "He could not flee the scene, you see,
>>
>> For he's been dead a year."
>>
>>
>>
>> The cop just looked confused and asked,
>>
>> "Now, how can that be true?"
>>
>> The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
>>
>> And left a kiss for you."
>>
>>
>>
>> He told us not to worry
>>
>> And that you would be all right,
>>
>> And then he put us in this car with
>>
>> The pretty, flashing light.
>>
>>
>>
>> We wanted him to stay with us,
>>
>> Because we miss him so,
>>
>> But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
>>
>> And said he had to go.
>>
>>
>>
>> He said someday we'd understand
>>
>> And told us not to fuss,
>>
>> And he said to tell you, Mommy,
>>
>> He's watching over us."
>>
>>
>>
>> The mother knew without a doubt
>>
>> That what they spoke was true,
>>
>> For she recalled their dad's last words,
>>
>> "I will watch over you."
>>
>>
>> The firemen's notes could not explain
>>
>> The twisted, mangled car,
>>
>> And how the three of them escaped
>>
>> Without a single scar.
>>
>>
>>
>> But on the cop's report was scribed,
>>
>> In print so very fine,
>>
>> An angel walked the beat tonight
>> On Highway 109.
>>
>> Pass this message to 7 people.
>>
>> You will receive a miracle tomorrow, and may it be
>>
>> really wonderful for you
>>
>>
>> [Original message attached...]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
I used to have so many problems with my daughter when she was younger with the carseat. I had a 5 point harness carseat, which seemed pretty secure to me and was recommended by many. Little did i know, i had a houdini for a daughter. I have no idea how she would squirm out of her carseat! It would take me forever to get to places because every 10 minutes i had to pullover and strap her back in. So the one day i looked in my rearview mirror and knew she was about to get out, so i pulled over to see how the heck she was getting out. I could'nt believe the way she would squirm out and i had it fastened pretty tight after the first few escapes. When i would pull over i even went as far as spanking her on the side of the road! All i needed was for a cop to see me spanking her but i would tell them which would be better, a spanking on her bum or going through a window???.Either way nothing was working. The one day i got pulled over by a cop because they seen her head all of a sudden pop up and i know she had every right to pull me over because my daughter was not in her seat. Obviously i did'nt argue the matter, i know i was at fault, when she started asking me questions about why she was'nt in her carseat and i was explaining the situation she just kept telling me i had to do something about it and i agreed but i just did'nt know what to do. As she went back to her car write the ticket i put Kayla back in her seat again and right when the cop came to my window Kayla got out of her seat right in front of the cop. She looked at me and said "wow, now i see what your dealing with". She is 5 now and as soon as she gets in a car she straps herself in and also makes sure everyone else in the car has their seatbelt on. The change was due to an accident we seen happen and it shook her up and as much as it shook me up, i was glad she seen it because it opened her eyes up.
Lillys dad
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5 point harness is definately the best option. They are by far the safest. And the hardest to get out of. But as you said, some kids still climb out. When having that problem, I tell parents to get creative. One thing to prevent the wiggling out of the straps is to ensure they are very tight. Propery adjusted belts are tightended so you can only get 1-2 fingers between the child and the belt. If they are still escaping, tighten them more. If they still get out, go to the hardware store and but a big pack of zip ties. These are the ties that electricians use to tie bundles of wires together. They are the smaller version of flex cuffs that cops use to cuff people in larger numbers. They are east to use and cheap. put on on the belts just above the chest buckle. If they are unlatching the lock, put one around the belts, just above the lock, then loop another one from the bottm of the latch and up to the othe zip tie. Make a T with them both over the latch so it cannot be opened.
If you decide to do this, you must carry a pair of wire cutters in your diaper bag or in the glove box of the car.
I realize that this is kind of extreme, but your childs life is well worth it.
SOme people will say that it is dangerous to prevent the straps from being removed like this. They have said that it prevents paramedics/cops/firmen from removing the child from the car. Well, we keep the kid in the seat, until they are out of the car. It is easier to remove the seat from the car, than it is to remove the child from the seat. We just unlock the seat belt and remove the seat with the child in it.
Extreme but effective.
If you decide to do this, you must carry a pair of wire cutters in your diaper bag or in the glove box of the car.
I realize that this is kind of extreme, but your childs life is well worth it.
SOme people will say that it is dangerous to prevent the straps from being removed like this. They have said that it prevents paramedics/cops/firmen from removing the child from the car. Well, we keep the kid in the seat, until they are out of the car. It is easier to remove the seat from the car, than it is to remove the child from the seat. We just unlock the seat belt and remove the seat with the child in it.
Extreme but effective.
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Yes, I've noticed that when a small child or infant is in a car accident, the emergency workers usually remove the car seat with the child still in it, and transport the child to the hospital still in the seat. The child actually transports more safely and comfortably in the seat then strapped onto a gurney. The gurney can be scary to a small child, whereas, the carseat is something familiar to them. Sometimes they strap the carseat onto the gurney and transport that way.
J
JLFWildKat
Guest
Unbelievable!! I can not believe how parents can do something like that. I'd be the bag for my kids period. Although I'd NEVER ever put my kids in my lap in a moving car period. Why people are that lazy is beyond me. That is the problem their not thinking at all & just don't care to think that it could happen even on just a short car ride.
MsGiglz
New Member
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It's really hard for me to see those parents being irresponsible their OWN children and not following the laws even the children's OWN safety too..
Almost everyday, I see the parents didnt put children in safety seats.. I get real FUMING! in my mind always wish that i pull them over or stop them, give them good lecture of SAFETY their own children.. but IMO.... they are neglecting their own children PERIOD!
even wrose that I just really irrating to see parent carry children but babies not in dress warm like parent does.. for example.. Mother or Father walked in store dressed in warm clothes.. Mother or Father carried baby or toddler with no shoes/socks.. or not covered by blanket.. or jacket.. I was like.. UH!!! you are killing your own kids.. (sigh)..
I have greater respect in children's needs.. even if you cant afford.. or dont have jacket for your children.. just grab YOUR own sweater and roll up on sleeves it will make a great warmth for baby or toddler.. if dont have time for socks.. MAKE IT have TIME.. you only have few minutes to find socks.. even if they are dirty.. find less dirty and go some place then wash clothes..
Poor Children.. they are greater suffering than young adult or adults.. because they are helpless or cant defend themselves..
it really makes me so mad to see those like that.. :rl:
Almost everyday, I see the parents didnt put children in safety seats.. I get real FUMING! in my mind always wish that i pull them over or stop them, give them good lecture of SAFETY their own children.. but IMO.... they are neglecting their own children PERIOD!
even wrose that I just really irrating to see parent carry children but babies not in dress warm like parent does.. for example.. Mother or Father walked in store dressed in warm clothes.. Mother or Father carried baby or toddler with no shoes/socks.. or not covered by blanket.. or jacket.. I was like.. UH!!! you are killing your own kids.. (sigh)..
I have greater respect in children's needs.. even if you cant afford.. or dont have jacket for your children.. just grab YOUR own sweater and roll up on sleeves it will make a great warmth for baby or toddler.. if dont have time for socks.. MAKE IT have TIME.. you only have few minutes to find socks.. even if they are dirty.. find less dirty and go some place then wash clothes..
Poor Children.. they are greater suffering than young adult or adults.. because they are helpless or cant defend themselves..
it really makes me so mad to see those like that.. :rl: