Car Seats: An Option or Necessity?

Arnie Gonzalez, Jr./ Pronto Insurance Marketing Department


05/15/2010
Walking, in a rush, almost running, you are fighting that sixth grader still deep inside that is afraid of getting in trouble for running down the hall, you make your way down the hallways of the local hospital; the journey, through the almost overwhelming scent of Clorox and Fabuloso, has been made and your significant other, lying on the hospital bed, screaming in a near exorcistic state, is found. After much reflection you make your way into the room, and somewhere just beyond all this madness, the clouds finally subside; an angel is born.
Holding your child for the first time, you grip them for dear life and try to protect them from all the bad in the world, nearly suffocating them. All the negative thoughts of the nine months of nausea, dizziness, weird cravings for peanut butter with pickles, and your child’s late night Tae Bo sessions on your stomach disappear in the blink of an eye; you have created a miracle. Since the first seconds of life, they have begun to trust you, even though they are not able to verbalize it, they do. This child, in your arms, has become your responsibility.
Where do all those feelings of joy, love, and longing to protect your flesh and blood, against all odds, go when a parent decides to transport their infant and or toddler, in a vehicle, not protected with a proper car seat, or one at all? It is unfathomable.
All of the 50 states require that children up to 18 months ride secured in car seats, and most have laws requiring them until the child is at least 3 years old. Studies have shown that children who don't ride in car seats are four times more likely to be seriously injured in a car crash, even in a parking lot fender bender. If that isn’t sufficient, down this: In 2000, 248,000 kids in the United States were injured in auto accidents and 1,668 children died as a result. Most of the children that became the fatalities-stat were not properly restrained, which means that car seats could have prevented many of their deaths. Many may think these deaths were a result of accidents of a catastrophic nature, but most were wrecks a few miles from home and at an average speed of 40mph or less.
There are many programs, which have classes to teach new parents on how to properly restrain their child in a vehicle, and that give information on ‘Inspection Stations,’ around your community. One local non-profit organization that offers programs such as those is the Tip of Texas Family Out Reach Center; they are located at 455 E. Levee. St., in Brownsville, Texas. Their phone number is 956-541-5566. Please keep your children in mind, when deciding whether to spend the $50-$60 for a car seat; are they worth it? For more information on the different types of car seats available and for the nearest inspection stations near you, please contact the following:


• Graco Children's Products
150 Oaklands Blvd.
Exton, PA 19341
1-800-345-4109
http://www.gracobaby.com/

• Britax Child Safety, Inc.
460-R Greenway Industrial Dr.
Fort Mill, SC 29708
1-888-427-4829
http://www.childseat.com

Cosco
Cosco Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 2609
Columbus, IN 47202
1-800-544-1108
http://www.coscoinc.com/

• Evenflo
Evenflo Juvenile Furniture Co.
1801 Commerce Dr.
Piqua, OH 45356
1-800-233-5921
http://www.evenflo.com/

• Fisher Price
636 Girard Ave.
East Aurora, NY 14052
1-800-432-5437
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/default.asp

• Kolcraft Products/Playskool
10832 NC Highway 211 East
Alberdeen, NC 28315
1-800-453-7673
http://www.kolcraft.com/

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