Are Your Kids Ready For Summer Travel?

North Shore Toyota Dealer | NY Car Dealership

Summer is a great time for the kids, with school out and lots of places to go. If your children are in car seats, it’s very important to have them correctly installed and ready to go. Many car seats are incorrectly secured in cars, so here are a few things to look for to help protect your children.

– You can test if your car seats are correctly installed. One way to check is the “inch” and “pinch” tests. The “inch” test is how much the empty car seat moves when you pull it forward and back, or side to side. If the seat moves more than one inch, tighten it further to prevent movement. The “pinch” test checks if your child is secure in the seat. Pinch the strap of the car seat near the child’s shoulder; if you can grab enough strap to wrinkle it, it needs further tightening.

– Never add anything between the child and the seat. During the summer, the child safety seat can get hot. You might be tempted to add towels or a blanket beneath the child to make them more comfortable. Unfortunately, this can result in the child not being fully restrained by the seat and should be avoided. Instead, check out the next item.

– Cool it before you move it. Take time to pre-cool the car before putting the child in their car seat. They will be more comfortable, and you prevent them being injured by a very hot metal buckle or other parts. Inside your car can exceed 120 degrees or higher when outside temperatures aren’t that high, so prevent problems by cooling the car for a few minutes before you place your child inside.

– Use your own seat when you travel. If you are taking your child on an airline flight, with a rental car at the destination, you might be tempted for convenience to use a loaned car seat when you arrive. This should be avoided, because you don’t know the history of the seat, how it’s been used, whether it’s been involved in a previous accident, and so on. Take your child’s car seat with you. Most airlines will check your car seat for free, so there’s no cost penalty, and you will be using a seat you know.

– Tie it all down, sport! Whether in your own car or a rental, don’t just toss all your stuff in the back seat, or even in the cargo area of an open SUV. In the event of a collision, all those loose items become projectiles that can injure the passengers. If the new or used car has a trunk, put loose items there, or use a cargo net in a SUV. If that’s not possible, place items on the floor in front of the rear seats, not loose on the seats themselves. Take a few seconds to secure items, and you will keep you family safe.

These tips are part of Toyota and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center “Buckle Up For Life” program, started in 2004 to help parents learn correct ways to keep their little ones safe in their cars. Penn Toyota is proud to participate in this program, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have about child seat restraint systems in Toyota vehicles, and how to keep you and your passengers safe as you enjoy summer travel. Now get out there and enjoy the summer season!