You may never consider the safety and skill required to drive a car until the first time you strap your child into your vehicle. The roads suddenly become a place filled with dangers when you have a family to protect. Keeping your kids safe in the car is your responsibility and one that needs to be a priority.
The last thing that you want as a parent is for your child to become injured. Car accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries in children. Sadly, many of these injuries are a result of negligence on the part of parents to make sure their children are safely secured in the car.
From having a quality car seat from Diono for your child to keeping snacks out of the backseat while the vehicle is moving, there are several strategies to follow to keep your kids safe. Let’s take a closer look at a few tips for keeping your precious children safe in the car.
Distracted Driving
In many states, it is now illegal to use your smartphone while driving. There is a good reason for this. Thousands of people have lost their lives or caused a fatal accident because they looked at their phones instead of the road. As a parent, the safety of your child in the car is your duty and responsibility. When driving with your kids, keep your phone off or use a Bluetooth hands-free device to make phone calls.
New parents are often exhausted and sleep-deprived. While this may seem like the normal state of the world when your child is young, it can create danger on the road. If you are tired and haven’t had enough sleep, try to avoid driving with your children in the car. It only takes a second for a tragic accident to happen.
Car Seats
It is the law to ensure that your children are properly secured in a car seat when you are driving. Each state sets mandates for ages and weight restrictions for safe driving with car seats. Make sure that your car seat is installed properly and that your child is properly secured before you hit the road.
Snacks
Parents will use almost any technique to keep their kids quiet and occupied while in the car. Unfortunately, feeding your kids snacks in the car can be very dangerous. With the vehicle’s movement, your child is at risk for choking on their small snack foods that may seem harmless. If you need to feed your child while you are on the road, it’s best to stop your vehicle until the meal is complete.
Heatstroke
Dozens of children die every year from heat stroke caused by being left in a hot vehicle. While this may seem like an obvious danger, many parents don’t realize that heatstroke can happen quickly even when the outside temperatures don’t seem that hot. Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time is never a good idea.
Power Windows
Power windows are a great convenience on most vehicles, but they can also be dangerous for your children. Tiny fingers, hands, and arms can quickly get pinched and injured by your power windows. In some cases, your child could even injure their necks and heads in your power windows. If your car has power windows, you should always engage the locking system while your kids are in the car.
As a parent, your first priority should always be the safety and happiness of your children. Follow these tips to help you keep your kids safe in the car.
