Yuma, Arizona - New research shows that more than half of forward-facing car seats are not used properly because of one misunderstood but essential step in installation: attaching the top tether. In fact, in a 2016 study of those who came to car seat checkup events, 64 percent of forward-facing car seats with harnesses were not attached using the tether.
This is a serious concern because the tether is an important safety device to protect children in cars.
Here’s why:
- The tether is the strap on the back of a forward-facing car seat that secures the top of the car seat to a dedicated anchor in the car. All vehicles made after 2001 are required to have at least 3 tether anchors.
- When attached and used correctly, the tether keeps a forward-facing car seat from pitching forward in a crash or sudden stop.
- Without this protection, a child’s head can move an additional 4-6 inches, which could cause serious harm if the child’s head hits the back of the front seat, other occupants or even the console.
- Using the tether could mean the difference between a serious head injury and no injury at all.
“Many parents don’t know about the tether, and don’t realize that their child is not fully protected. We want to fix that.” said Ryan Butcher, Safe Kids Yuma County. “Although our next community check event will not take place until November, we encourage families to call the Health Department to schedule a one on one car seat check. Families can also get expert help online with the Ultimate Car Seat Guide, which is available in both English and Spanish.”
The research also shows that lack of tether use is an historic problem. Over a ten-year span, tether use is consistently low and many families who use it don’t use it correctly.
But the good news is education works. In 2016, parents and caregivers were shown the importance of using the tether at a Safe Kids car seat checkup event. At a follow-up event six weeks later with the same families, correct tether use increased by 37 percent.
Today’s announcement builds on Safe Kids Worldwide’s enduring, 20-year partnership with Chevrolet and General Motors, dedicated to protecting children and teens in and around cars. Since its launch in 1997, the Buckle Up program has grown into the most comprehensive child passenger safety program in the nation. Over that time, there has been a 50 percent decline in child deaths for children 8 and under in car crashes.
About Safe Kids Yuma County
Safe Kids Yuma County works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Its members include [List members]. Safe Kids Yuma County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Yuma County is led by the Yuma County Public Health Services District. For more information, visit safekids.org or Safe Kids Yuma County on Facebook and Twitter.