Buckle Up for Safety
Plenty of confusion exists around the use of booster seats for children in vehicles. Many parents believe those once their children weigh more than 40 lb (18 kg) they can just buckle them into the adult seat belts in the vehicle. Kids, too, are part of the problem. Once a child gets out of the car seat, he thinks he's too big for a booster seat.
In reality, booster seats are designed and strongly recommended for kids who weigh 40 - 80 lbs (18 - 36 kg), usually those between 4 and 8 years of age. These kids are too big for child car seats, but too small to be in an adult seat belt. Without booster seats, these kids are the least likely to be safely buckled up in a vehicle and the results can be tragic. In 1999, 22 children under the age of 15 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in Alberta. In addition, nearly 2000 kids are injured every year in this province in motor vehicle collisions. Many of these children would not be hurt, or at least would not be hurt as seriously, if they were correctly buckled up for every ride.
Booster seats have one important function - they boost the child up so that the vehicle seat belt fits him or her correctly. There are many myths that surround the use of booster seats. These myths lead to many kids being needlessly injured. Everyone thinks that a crash will never happen, but this isn't the case. Crashes happen to regular families with regular kids. Car crashes hurt more kids in this province than any other cause of injury. Keep reading - the facts about booster seats may surprise you.
| Myth | Children between 40 and 80 lbs (18 - 36 kg) can safely ride in the vehicle seat belt system. Fact: Vehicle seat belt systems are designed to restrain an average size adult male, not a child. Booster seats position the adult seat belt correctly on a child's body. When the seat belt is correctly positioned, the lap belt rides low on the hips and the shoulder belt, if present, comes across the centre of the chest. With the seat belt positioned correctly, the child is more likely to be protected from injury in a crash. One way to check if your child needs a booster seat is to have them seat on the vehicle seat with their back right up against the back of the seat. If their legs stick straight out and can't bend over the edge of the vehicle seat, they need a booster seat. Myth: Booster seats are required by law. |
| Fact | Booster seats are not required by law in Alberta but they are strongly recommended for all kids weighing 40 - 80 lbs (18 -36 kg). A note about the law - if a child, or anybody, is wearing the seat belt under their arm or behind their back, that is illegal. Kids who need to adjust the position of the seat belt in that way should be in a booster seat. The reason that many parents give when asked why they don't use a booster seat for their child is that it's not the law. Studies have shown that parents say they would use booster seats if they were required by law, but since they're not required by law they think that they're not necessary. |
| Myth | I can take my 35 lb (16 kg) child out of his child safety seat and put him in a booster seat if the middle of his ears are above the top of the safety seat. |
| Fact | In Alberta, the law requires that all children who are under six years of age and whose weight does not exceed 40 lbs (18 kg) be restrained in an approved child safety seat with the equivalent of a 5-point harness, not a booster seat. In the past couple of years, many new child safety seats have come onto the market to accommodate tall children who are under 40 lbs (18 kg), so there is no excuse for moving a child out of a child safety seat too soon. |
Calgary Regional Health Authority
1820 Richmond Road S.W. Calgary
AB T2T 5C7
Phone: (403) 229-7833
FAX: (403) 541-7533
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