Child Passenger Safety

"National Child Passenger Safety Week 2019 is September 15-21. Make sure you properly buckle children on every trip.

Reduce Their Risk

In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children. In 2017, 675 children 12 years old and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and nearly 116,000 were injured. Of the children 12 years old and younger who died in a crash in 2017 (for which restraint use was known), 35% were not buckled up. Parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference.

Whenever you’re on the road, make sure children—aged 12 and under—are buckled in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts, and always in the back seat.

Data shows that:

• In 2017, restraint use saved the lives of 325 children ages 4 years and younger.
• Car seat use reduces the risk for injury in crashes by 71–82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone.
• Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children aged 4-8, when compared with seat belt use alone..."
  Child passengers

Keeping Children Safe

"School is back in session. As you stock up on pencils, take first-day pictures, and adjust to new bus schedules, take a few, quick steps that can keep your child safer during an emergency.

From tornadoes to water main breaks, emergencies can occur with little or no warning—even during the school day. As children head back to school, take a few steps to help protect your child from an emergency and to reunite with your child quickly and safely.

Protecting Your Child Is as Easy as A-B-C

Ask how you would be reunited with your child in an emergency or evacuation

• If students had to evacuate, where should you go to pick them up?
• How would the school notify you in the event of emergency?

Follow these three steps to help protect your child during emergencies in the school day. View larger version and text description.

Bring extra medication, special foods, or supplies your child would need if you were separated overnight

• What essential supplies would your child need if separated from you overnight? (Medications? Inhaler? Milk? Diapers? Battery pack for special equipment?)
• Does the school have an emergency stockpile of these items or could you bring extras to be kept at school?
• What is the school policy for how and when medicine can be administered to your child?

Complete a backpack contact information card[171 KB] and tuck one in your child’s backpack and your wallet

• Emergencies are chaotic! Make sure your child or their school knows how to reach you, and who should be called if your phone isn’t working.
• Download and complete your own backpack card.."
  Child safety and school

Child passenger safety

"National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 17-23. Make sure the ones you love are safely buckled up in the car on every trip.

Reduce Their Risk

In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children. In 2015 , 663 children ages 12 years and younger died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and nearly 132,000 were injured. But parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference.

Whenever you’re on the road, make sure children are buckled in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts. Children under age 13 should ride properly buckled in the back seat on every trip. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat or in front of an airbag. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat..."

Child passengers

Choosing and Using a Car Seat

 Find information on choosing a car seat for your child.
Choosing a Car Seat