when talking about child security and testings, theres always a front and lateral car collision examples, what about rear collision with rear facing child seats?
Sorry for my english
thanks for any helps.
How to seat children in automobiles
By: CAA
Date: Monday, 07. September 2009
Courtesy of the Canadian Automobile Association Web site
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death or injury to children under five years of age. In addition, sudden stops or swerves can be dangerous for young children who are not properly seated in correctly installed child car seats.
The potential danger
An adult's arms are just not strong enough to hold on to a child during a collision. The forces of the collision are too strong and the weight of the adult can crush a child.
Unrestrained bodies move around
When a vehicle stops suddenly, the passengers move with speed and force toward the point of impact. An unrestrained child may be thrown head first into the dashboard, the windshield, the back of the front seat, or out of the vehicle through windows or doors.
Cars are not built to protect children
Due to the small size of children, they may not benefit from the built-in safety features inside the vehicle. On impact, children are more likely than adults to strike the inside of the vehicle with their face and head. This can cause serious injury.
When the head strikes something, the brain floats and "bumps" into the skull, causing swelling and pressure on the brain. Severe head injuries can cause death or result in brain damage causing physical and/or mental disabilities.
The solution is known
It has been estimated that when correctly used and installed, child car seats can reduce deaths by about 90% and injuries by 70%.
Children need the special protection they get from child car seats. Their soft bone structures, weaker muscles, heavy heads and smaller bodies expose them to risk of injury in vehicles. The following child car seats protect children through the various ages and stages of their lives. Child car seats and booster seats can only be used on forward-facing vehicle seats.
Infant-only car seats certified to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213.1 for children from birth to about 9 kg (20 lb.) and 66 cm (26 in.). These seats must always face the back of the vehicle and should never be placed in a seating position in front of an air bag.
Convertible car seats certified to CMVSS 213 and 213.1 for children from birth to about 18 kg (40 lb.) and 101 cm (40 in.). These seats are used rear-facing until the child is about 9 kg (20 lb.) and can sit up without any help for long periods of time. Then, it is turned around to face the front of the vehicle. At this time, it should be placed in the back seat and it must be anchored to a solid metal part of the vehicle by the tether strap and anchor bolt assembly provided by the manufacturer.
Booster seats certified to CMVSS 213.2 for children from 18 to 27 kg (40 - 60 lb.) These seats raise the child up on the vehicle seat and position the vehicle seat belt system correctly on the child's body. As with all child restraints, the safest place for the booster is in the back seat.
Special seats certified to CMVSS 213.3 for children with disabilities.
Integrated seats certified to CMVSS 213.4 for children who are 1 year or older and who weigh 9 kg to 22 kg (20 - 48 lb.). There are also some booster seat models for children over 18 kg (40 lb.) These seats are built right into the vehicle seat.
Only seats that meet Canadian standards can be used in Canada. Seats certified to U.S. standards are not legal for use in Canada. You can be ticketed for using a U.S.-certified seat.
Rear seating is best
The back seat is the safest place for children because it is furthest away from the dashboard, steering wheel and windshield. The centre back seat position is the safest place of all.
It's unsafe for children to travel in the cargo areas of vans or station wagons. Loose objects which could injure the child (or any occupant) on impact are often stored in these areas. Such objects must be tied down. Child car seats must always be buckled in, even when they are not in use. If they are loose, they too can injure vehicle occupants.
Infants need a child car seat
From birth until about 9 kg (20 lb.) and 66 cm (26 in.) an infant needs to travel facing the back of the vehicle. The weight and height limits may vary depending on the manufacturer. In this position, the forces of an impact are spread over the entire body and into the back of the child car seat where they are absorbed. Vehicle seat belts are used to fasten rear-facing child car seats into the vehicle.
You should pay particular attention to how you place an infant in the child car seat and to how you secure the seat in the vehicle.
Placing Baby in the Seat
In the rear-facing position, the infant and convertible seats must be placed in their reclined position according to the manufacturer's instructions. In this position, the baby's neck, head and back are fully supported by the child car seat. During a collision, the forces of impact are spread evenly across the child's body from the buttocks to the top of the shoulders, minimizing the potential for injury.
Dress your baby in clothing with legs. This will allow a better fit of the crotch strap that passes between the legs. Do not use a sack sleeper or a bulky blanket. If you use a sack sleeper, it must have a slot through which the crotch strap can pass.
NOTE: Warm weather can cause the metal and plastic parts of your child car seat to get very hot. Cover the seat with a towel or blanket when it is not being used. Before placing your child in the seat, touch all the metal and plastic parts to be sure they are not too hot. At the same time, these parts may get very cold in the winter and could cause your child to be uncomfortable and unhappy in the seat. It only takes a moment to check.
Now, place the baby in the seat. The baby' s bottom and back must be flat against the back of the child car seat. If you leave a gap, baby will not be comfortable. For support, you can place a rolled diaper, thin towel, or receiving blanket on either side of the baby's head and body. You may also slip a towel between the child' s legs to ensure he/she will not slip down in the seat. Blankets must not interfere with securing the harness straps snugly.
"Head Hugger" pads are available in many stores and provide the head support you would get from placing a towel on either side of the infant's head. If you use a head hugger, the harness straps must come through the back of the pad, not around the side. If there are no harness strap slots in the pad, you will have to cut your own.
If you're using blankets to cover up the baby, always add them after the harness is secured. If you wrap baby in the blanket first, you will not get a snug fit of the harness and the harness straps will not lie correctly on baby's shoulders. A child in this position could be ejected from the seat if you are in a collision. Another option is to cut holes in the blanket for the harness straps and the crotch strap buckle. In this case, you will still have to snugly fasten the harness straps first. Then, fold the blanket around the child.
Fastening the Harness Straps
Child restraints often come with more than one slot to position the harness straps. Check your manufacturer's instructions for the correct position of the harness straps at the infant's shoulders. Some instructions say the harness should be at or slightly above the infant's shoulders, while others say at or slightly below. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
You will have to adjust the harness strap position as the child grows. Whatever position the child is in, always make sure the harness straps lie flat across the body. The harness straps are wide so that the forces of a collision are spread over as large an area as possible. Any twists or wrinkles in the harness can actually concentrate the forces of impact and could injure the child.
You should fit the harness straps snugly on the child' s body with no more than the width of 2 fingers between the harness straps and the child's collar bone.
When your child is in heavier winter clothing, remember that the straps must be snug to the body, not the clothing. If the harness straps are too loose, they may not hold the child in the seat during a collision.
Harness straps that go through a strap slide must be "doubled back" to make sure that they do not slip. Follow your manufacturer's instructions.
Now, fasten the crotch strap between the child's legs. Make sure it clicks into place. Pull up on the strap just to make sure it is securely fastened.
Positioning the Chest Clip
If your child car seat comes with a chest clip, you must use it correctly. Where required, the chest clip keeps the harness straps from slipping off the child's shoulders. It must be placed at the child's armpit level. Check your instructions to be sure that it is correctly threaded.
While most child car seats require the use of a chest clip, there are some that do not. You should never add a chest clip to a child car seat without speaking to the manufacturer.
When you have your infant securely belted into the child car seat, it's time to place the seat into the vehicle.
Placing the Seat in the Vehicle
NOTE: Never place a rear-facing child car seat in a position where an air bag is installed. When the air bag deploys, it will strike the back of the infant car seat with force and can seriously, even fatally, injure the child. Forward -facing seats should be tethered in the back seat of the vehicle. All children under 12 should travel in the back seat of the car.
The back seat is the safest place for all children under 12 years of age. The centre position in the back seat is the safest position of all because it is the point furthest away from any point of impact during a crash.
Vehicle seats must support at least 85% of the base of the child car seat.
Seats that are used for infants from birth to 9 kg (20 lb.) must be placed in the vehicle facing the back. This is because your baby does not have the muscle strength in his/her back and neck to travel safely forward-facing. This level of development is generally reached when your baby can sit up without any help for some length of time, usually at about 9 kg (20 lb.)
Some vehicle seats slope toward the back of the seat. In these cases, depending on the type of infant seat you have, you can add a roll of thin towel under the "toe" of the child car seat at the crease of the vehicle seat. This will recline the child car seat, but you should never recline it more than 45 degrees. If you recline the seat too far, it could launch your baby right out of the seat during a collision.
When you put the child car seat in the vehicle, push it down into the vehicle seat and pull the seat belt as tight as possible. Then, try to move the seat. There should be very little movement.
Thread the vehicle seat belt through or around the car seat according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you use a seat belt path other than the one recommended by the child car seat manufacturer, the seat could pull apart during a crash. Convertible seats will have two paths for the seat belt. One is used for the rear-facing position and the other is used when the seat is placed facing forward. If your vehicle has a "continuous loop" seat belt system that cannot be converted into an automatic locking retractor, you will have to use a locking clip as directed by the child car seat manufacturer.
Some vehicle seat belts were not designed to hold child car seats. Check your Vehicle Owner' s Manual. If your child car seat has any extra features that can be used outside the vehicle, you should check your manufacturer's instructions to see if and how they should be used in the vehicle. For example, if your child car seat has a carrying handle it must be in the furthest down position when the seat is used in a vehicle. If you have a canopy cover, you should check the child car seat manufacturer's instructions for how it should be used in a vehicle. If the seat converts to a rocker, this feature should not be used in the vehicle.
If your child car seat has a base that can be left in the vehicle and you are fastening it in the car with a lap and shoulder belt, route both belts through the openings as shown by the manufacturer. Remember to use a locking clip on "continuous loop" seat belt systems. Be sure that the release button of the vehicle seat belt is not positioned so that the base of the child car seat accidentally pushes it when you install the child car seat. The child car seat should always snap firmly in place. Check to be certain that it is locked into the base by lifting up on the back of the seat.
Premature or low birth weight infants need special protection
Premature, low birth weight and special needs infants, particularly those who have breathing problems, need special protection in vehicles. Health care professionals have special recommendations for these infants.
Generally, child car seats with a shield or arm bar do not fit a small child and should not be used. Infant-only car seats with a 3-point harness system may provide better protection for tiny infants.
Child car seats used for these infants should have a crotch to seat back distance of less than 13* cm (5* in.) and a lower harness strap to seat bottom distance of 25 cm (10 in.) or less.
The shoulder harness should be routed through the lowest slots. There should be no more than the width of 2 fingers between the harness straps and the body of the child.
Child car seat pads or blanket rolls placed outside of the harness may be used to support the infant's body. A small blanket or towel roll may also be placed between the crotch strap and the infant to keep the infant from sliding down in the seat.
No padding should be used between the child and the seat back or underneath the child.
If possible, the child car seat can be tilted back with a cloth roll placed beneath the "toe" of the seat at the "crease" of the vehicle seat, but only to a 45 degree angle.
If there is a chest clip on the harness straps, it should be placed at the infant's armpit level, not under the chin.
Harness straps must lie flat and be doubled back according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Children with an acute medical condition or physical disability need particular care
Most children hospitalized for a medical problem continue to use their regular car seats. However, some conditions require special measures. Parents should discuss special needs with their child' s doctor. Some children must travel with special medical equipment. This equipment should be anchored to the floor of the vehicle, or under the seat, so that it doesn' t fly around during a crash and injure someone.
Children who have a physical disability may require a special car seat. In Canada, people with special needs have access to one of the widest ranges of support and therapy services, equipment, and medical intervention in the world. Being well informed about the options available is a first step in coping with the special challenges you face in protecting your child in a vehicle.
Discuss your child' s needs with your doctor. Check with your provincial health and social service authorities. These vary across the country. Or, you may want to contact your local Cerebral Palsy Association. The Association can advise you about what is available in your area.
Toddlers need protection too
When a child reaches the maximum weight (usually about 9 kg/20 lb.) or height limits (usually about 66 cm/26 in.) specified by the child car seat manufacturer for the rear-facing position, and can sit up for several minutes unaided, it's time to turn and face the front of the vehicle.
Convertible car seats are for children from birth to approximately 18 kg (40 lb.) or 101 cm (40 in.). When used in the forward-facing position for toddlers, the seat must be attached to the vehicle by the tether strap and anchor bolt assembly provided by the manufacturer. Correctly installed, the tether strap will limit the forward and sideways movement of the child car seat in a collision. The seat must also be used in the upright position unless the manufacturer says that it can be reclined. Check your instructions.
Make sure you follow all instructions for the use and installation of the seat. The chest clip, if required, must be at arm pit level. The harness straps must lie flat and be routed through the slots recommended by the manufacturer (generally the upper slots). There should be no more than the width of 2 fingers between the harness straps and the toddler's body. Check your Vehicle Owner's Manual to determine whether the seats belts in your car will hold a child car seat and whether a locking clip is required.
Older children often need a boost
Vehicle seat belts usually do not fit small children very well. The lap belt tends to ride up on the abdomen and the shoulder belt often cuts across the face or neck. Children can be injured by seat belts that do not fit them correctly and by seat belts that are not worn correctly. For this reason, it is recommended that children be placed in a booster seat which is certified for use in vehicles. Booster seats are generally designed for children 18 - 27 kg (40 - 60 lb.) Some manufacturers now provide a "high back" booster seat. You must use a lap/shoulder belt with high back boosters. Again, check your Vehicle Owner's manual to ensure that the seat belts in your car will hold a booster seat and determine whether you will need to use a locking clip.
A booster seat without a high back should only be used until the mid-point of the child's ears reaches above the top of the vehicle seat back. At this point, the child' s head will no longer be protected. If you have a vehicle that has a low seat back, you may want to buy a booster seat with a high back. This will ensure that your child's head is protected.
Built in protection for toddlers
Some vehicle manufacturers now offer "built-in" or "integrated" child car seats and booster seats. These seats were built to provide a more convenient way of securing small children and to reduce the errors usually made by people using typical child car seats. Most vehicle manufacturers do not recommend use of these seats for children under one year of age. If your child outgrows the rear-facing infant seat before one year of age, you will have to purchase and use a forward-facing child car seat until your child's first birthday.
Seat belts for older children
Older children need the protection provided by the vehicle seat belt system. No one, especially children, should ever be allowed to place the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm. This can result in serious injuries in the event of a crash. Children should be taught how to wear the seat belt correctly. The shoulder belt should be fastened snugly with no more than the width of 2 fingers between the shoulder belt and the collar bone and should lie flat across the chest. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, away from the abdomen.
Travelling with tots
Do you remember what it was like to be a kid? To sit still for even the shortest length of time? To be so excited about where you were going that you couldn't wait to get there? Well, times haven' t changed all that much. Your little one is just as full of energy as you used to be (or maybe still are). That leisurely drive or extended road trip you are excited about can be terribly boring, confining, and long for your child.
Plan some breaks along the way. Let the little ones get out and run off some of that energy. You should join them, the break will help you stay alert as well.
Tell your child exactly how long the trip will take. Answer that "are we there yet" question precisely. Rather than replying "soon", try "when such and such is finished, this will happen" making a passage of events which have meaning (i.e. "When you see the big glass building and lots of cars, then we'll be close to grandma and grandpa' s house").
Give your child a map. Circle your starting point and where you will end up. Let your child play "navigator" and tell you what city or town you will pass next. If your child is too young to follow a map, ask him or her to look for special landmarks along the way.
Put aside some special toys that are rarely played with and are soft and safe as travel toys, but nothing sharp. Try a special blanket for the car, books, a sleep friend, and a tape deck with sing-along tapes.
Play some road games. For example, ask your child to look for certain license plates, vehicle types, buildings, trees, people, and so on. This is almost like a treasure hunt and you could offer a special reward to the winner. Whatever you do, stop playing while it�s still fun. There�s nothing entertaining about playing a game that has just gone on for too long.
How about a game of "Eye Spy"?
Make sure your child is comfortable
It may be too hot in the back seat. The sun could be shining into your child�s eyes through the window. The seat padding or vinyl cover may be too hot or too cold. Air circulation may be poor. Take a minute, sit in the back seat and see what it�s like back there.
Your child could be wearing too much or too little clothing for the climate in the vehicle. In winter, once the car warms up, unzip that snow suit or take it off to ensure your child�s comfort. In the summer, try the barefoot approach and get rid of socks and shoes.
Just plain sick of the car
Some children suffer from motion sickness, although they may not vomit. Very young children cannot express their feelings, but they have other ways of letting you know that something is wrong. Crying and trying to get out of the car seat can mean that your child is just plain sick of the car, or more specifically, sickened by the car. Motion sickness is not unusual. Talk to your doctor and find out what you can do to make travel in the car easier for your child.
This handout is provided through the courtesy of the Canadian Automobile Association in co-operation with Transport Canada. Information contained in this handout may be reprinted in whole or in part provided that a sample of the publication in which it is used is provided to the CAA. Further information about child restraint devices is available through local CAA Member Club offices (and the Newfoundland Safety Council in St. John's) or by contacting:
Canadian Automobile Association
National Child Restraint Safety Network
Suite 200, 1145 Hunt Club Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 0Y3
Phone: (613) 247-0117
Fax: (613) 247-0118
E-mail: rfischer@national.caa.ca
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sukion,
