Anne Arundel County Department of Health - Child Passenger Safety

Home > Health Information & Promotion > Youth Risk Reduction > Child Passenger Safety - Car Safety Seats

Updated 5.5.2008

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of injuries among young children in Anne Arundel County. Using your child's car safety seat correctly helps reduce motor vehicle injuries and death. Below are some quick check tips, a list of inspection sites in Anne Arundel County and links to other sites providing more information.

What should I know before purchasing a car safety seat?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides information that allows consumers to identify child safety seat restraints that affect ease of use. Before purchasing a child safety seat, click here to view NHTSA's information.

What should I know about my child's car safety seat?

Always refer to the car seat manufacturer's instructions for specific directions on properly using the car safety seat. Make sure your child's safety seat is the correct seat for his/her height and weight and is positioned in the right direction. For example, infants should ride rear facing until one year of age and at least twenty pounds. In addition, children between 40 and approximately 80 lbs. should ride in a booster seat using the car lap and shoulder safety belt.

Check to be sure the safety seat is tightly secured. Using your hand, tug the belt path area to test the seat. The child safety seat should not move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back. If it is too loose, check your vehicle owner manual for additional instructions.

Check to be sure the harness strap and harness clip are snug. The harness strap should be adjusted so that only one finger can be slipped underneath the strap at your child's chest. The harness clip should be fastened at armpit level.

Move your child to a booster seat when he/she outgrows the toddler seat. Most forward facing or toddler seats with harnesses can be used until your child reaches 40 pounds or when his/her shoulder is above the top harness strap slot. At that time it is recommended that your child move to a booster seat and utilize the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. The booster seat will help your child wear the lap and shoulder belt correctly and sit more comfortably. Most booster seats can be used until your child reaches 60-80 pounds or until the lap/shoulder belt alone fits your child correctly.

The safest place for your child's safety seat is the back seat. Frontal collisions are the most common type of car crash and severe injuries can occur in children riding in the front seat. In addition, if your vehicle has a passenger air bag, all children 12 years and under should ride in the back to prevent injuries from the force of a deploying air bag.

Where can I get my child's car safety seat inspected?

The following agencies have personnel trained to check your child's car safety seat. You must call for an appointment.

Anne Arundel County Department of Health
Department of Health certified child safety seat technicians encourage active participation of the parent or caregiver so they may learn and acquire skills for proper installation and use of their child's car seat. In the event of inclement weather such as snow, hard rain or thunderstorm, child safety seat checks may be cancelled. Please call in advance to make an appointment.

Health Services Building, 3 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis. By appointment only from 9 a.m. to noon on May 13 and June 10. Call 410-222-4223.

Anne Arundel Community College, Department of Public Safety - by appointment only

101 College Parkway, Arnold, 410-777-2096

Maryland State Police - by appointment only

Barrack P, Glen Burnie, 410-761-5130
Barrack J, Annapolis, 410-974-3301

The following links provide more information:

Maryland Kids In Safety Seats - www.mdkiss.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/
American Academy of Pediatrics - www.aap.org/family/cps.htm

For more information on child safety seats or other injury prevention programs in Anne Arundel County, call 410-222-4223 or send an e-mail to Wendy Mahan.