___ C_h_i_ld_ S_a_f_e_t_y ______________________________________________ _
Child Safety
Important things to know
Introduction
The rear seat is generally the safest place in a collision.
The physica l principles of what happens when your vehi cle is in a
crash app ly also to children ~
page 161, "What happens to occu-
pants not wearing safety belts?" . But un like adu lts and t eenagers,
their musc les and bones are not fu lly developed. In many respects
children are at greate r risk of ser ious injury in crashe s t han adults .
Because chi ldren 's bodies are not f ully deve loped, they require
restraint systems especially designed for their size, weight, and
body structu re. Many countr ies and all states of the Un ited States
and provinces of Canada have laws requiring the use of approved
child restrai nt systems for infa nts and small chil d ren.
In a frontal crash at a speed of 20-35 mph (30-56 km/h) the forces
acti ng on a 13-pound (6 kg) infant wil l be more tha n 20 times the
weight of the child . This means the weight of the child would
suddenly be more than 260 pounds (120 kg). Under these condi -
tions, on ly an appropriate child restraint properly used can reduce
the risk of serious injury. Child restraints, like adult safety belts,
m ust be used prope rly to be eff ect ive. Used im properly, they can
increase the risk of serious injury in an accident .
Consu lt t he child safety seat manufac t ure r's inst ruc tions t o be su re
the seat is right for your ch ild's size~
page 793, "Important safety
instructions for using child safety seats" . Please be sure to read and
heed all of the important information and WARNINGS about child
safety, Advanced Airbags, and the installation of child restraints in
t his chapte r.
There is a lot you need to know about the Advanced Airbags in your
vehi cle and how t hey work wh en infan t s and chi ld ren in child
restraints are on the front passenger seat. Because of the large
amoun t of important information, we cannot repeat it all here. We
urge you to read the detai led information in this owner's manua l
about airbags and the Advanced Airba g Syst em in your veh icle an d
the very important information about transporting chi ldren on the
fron t passe nge r seat . Please be su re to heed t he WARNINGS - t hey
are extreme ly important for your safety and the safety of your
passengers, especial ly in fants and small children .
& WARNING
• Accident stati stic s have shown that children are generally safer
in the rear seat area than in the front seating position. Always
restrain any child age 12 and under in the rear.
• All vehicle occupants and especially children must be
restrained properly whenever riding in a vehicle. An unrestrained
or improperly restrained child could be injured by striking the inte-
rior or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden
maneuve r or impa ct . An unrestrained or improperly restrained
child is also at greater risk of injury or death through contact with
an inflating airbag .
• A suitable child restraint properly installed and used at one of
the rear seat ing positions provides the highest degree of protec-
tion for infants and small children in most accident situations.
& WARNING
Children on the front seat of any car even with Advanced Airbags
can be seriously injured or even killed when an airbag inflates . A
child in a rearward -facing child safety seat installed on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates .
• The inflating airbag will hit the child safety seat or infant
carrier with great force and will smash the child safety seat and
child against the backrest , center arm rest, or door.
IJll,
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