BLOG: My Son's Car Seat Saved His Life

I'll never forget the swirl of emotions I felt on December 12, 2010. First came the frantic call from my wife that she and the kids had been in an accident on I-97. Then there was the frightening accident scene (pictured), where I arrived only after my family was taken away. Finally, there was the relief of our reunion at the hospital. Thankfully, doctors confirmed that my 2-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter were all right, largely due to their car seat and seat belt.

For too many parents, though, the results are tragic. Thousands of children are killed each year in auto accidents, and often because their car seats are not properly installed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3 out of 4 cars seats are improperly installed! A properly installed car seat can increase chances of surviving an accident by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For all parents, the clear message is: Make sure your kids are in the right car seat, and take the time to install the seats correctly.

Replacing our car seat after the accident was a learning experience. The NHTSA recommends that car seats be discarded after all but minor accidents. Looking back, I can boil down our search and purchase into three steps:

• Research. There are reliable lists of rating information that help you sort through the zillion or so car seats on the market. Doing your homework will make your store search much simpler.
• Testing. We sat our son in the demo models at the store to check the fit and test the adjustments. We found a buckle that was not too hard for us to operate, but hard enough for him not to be able to open on his own.
• Professional safety check. For peace of mind and reliable hands-on information, you can't beat a car seat safety check. There are plenty of resources available to have your car seat installation checked by a certified professional.

The onset of winter brings changes in weather and driving conditions that can turn treacherous in an instant. Let's protect our kids as well as we can by setting a good example ourselves and securing them in our vehicles properly every time. I know it for a fact - car seats save lives!

Helpful links:
The NHTSA Child Safety Page
Anne Arundel County Child Safety Seat Page - Find the AACC Arnold contact info here.
CarSeat.org - a site run by a national advocacy group, a great place to find a list of car seat recalls. 

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Brandon Houston, of Triple Sisters Insurance, is an insurance agent concerned about the safety of his family, friends, neighbors and clients.

By day, Brandon takes care of his customers at his office in Glen Burnie. Off-hours, he's likely out volunteering with his family, cooking up his latest culinary creation, or refining his beginner's golf swing.