Proper child safety seats can prevent tragedies

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for children.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a total of 859 children younger than 13 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022; almost three-quarters of these deaths were children riding in passenger vehicles.

For Native Americans, those statistics are even more grim. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), death rates among American Indian and Alaska Native children and youth aged 0–19 years were about 2 to 5 times higher than those of other racial and ethnic groups in motor vehicle crashes.

CDC statistics point to a lower-than-average usage of child safety and booster seats among the Native American population. While rates can vary across reservations, proper restraint use among American Indian and Alaska Native children aged 7 years and younger ranged from 23% to 79% in a study of six Northwest tribes. A nationally representative study in 2015 found proper restraint use among U.S. children aged 7 years and under ranged from 63% to 87%.

When looking at these statistics comparing other races to Native Americans, it points to the fact that many of these deaths are preventable.

“With the Native American population, we see high rates of injury and deaths, higher than any other races nationwide,” said Consuelo Splawn with the Choctaw Nations Children Matter program.

Children Matter is part of the Choctaw Nations Injury Prevention program, which provides education for properly installing car seats for children who are members of a federally recognized tribe.

The goal of the Injury Prevention Program is to focus special attention on activities to prevent or reduce the occurrence of injuries for Native Americans residing in the Choctaw Nation service area.

One way this is done is by ensuring that Native Americans living on the Choctaw Nation reservation have access to adequate child passenger safety seats or equipment appropriate for their child.

“We have anything from infant carriers to backless boosters, and it’s basically for the ages of zero to eight,” said Splawn.

Splawn says that in the last six months, over 300 car seats have been given out on reservation through the program.

Splawn says they can also provide appropriate safety equipment for a child with special needs.

“For instance, if we have someone that may have a child that’s autistic, then we can provide not just a car seat, but even the possibility of what they call a rider vest,” explained Splawn.

A rider vest is a wearable booster seat alternative for children that brings the seatbelt down to your child’s level.

The Vest is a legal alternative for children as young as 3 years old and 30 pounds to belt-positioning boosters in all states that do not require the child’s body to be elevated off the vehicle seat.

Splawn added that not only do they install car seats, but they also provide education on best practices for a family or caregiver so that they’re comfortable installing the car seat, too.

“The staff and the other CPS techs are available to check a car seat anytime, not just at the car seat check events,” said Splawn. Any CDIB card holder is eligible to apply for the program.

“They also have to be a resident within the tribal reservation area,” Splawn added. “If you’re pregnant, then you have to show proof of pregnancy after 31 weeks of gestational period.”

Follow the law

Different states have different laws for car seats. For Oklahoma, the laws are as follows:

• Children under age 2 must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat.
• Rear-facing is the safest way for small children to travel, and they should remain rear-facing until they reach 2 years of age or until they exceed the height or weight limit of the car seat.
• Riding rear-facing with legs bent or against the back of the seat is a safe and comfortable position for children. This position best protects the head, neck, and spinal cord in the event of a crash.
• All children under age 4 must be properly secured in a car seat with an internal harness.
• A 5-point harness is the safest restraint system and should be used as long as possible (until the child exceeds the harness’ weight limit).
• Children at least 4 years of age (but younger than 8) must ride in a car seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4’9″.
• A booster seat should be used until the child can properly fit into a seat belt.
• Children 8 years or older, or taller than 4’9″, should always be restrained in a seat belt. Riding in the vehicle’s back seat is the safest way for children to travel.

If you live outside of Oklahoma, the Governors Highway Safety Association lists child passenger safety laws by state.

Types of car seats

The primary types of car seats are rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats.

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep them safe.

Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.

Splawn says this is important because of the way children develop.

“Their head and body aren’t going to be able to survive an impact if they were forward facing, so they recommend rear-facing in a car seat for that reason.”

Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, they’re ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

The next stage is a booster seat, but still in the back seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until they’re big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. It’s recommended that your child rides in the back seat because it’s safer there.

Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions (check height and weight limits) and read the vehicle owner’s manual on installing the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available.

Common mistakes

One common mistake Splawn sees is parents moving to forward-facing seats too early.

“They have a car seat that can allow that child to continue to ride rear-facing, but because their legs are folded up in the back, they want to go ahead and turn them around. We always want to check the manufacturer’s recommendation for that car seat,” Splawn said.

Another mistake Splawn sees often is extra accessories added to the car seat.

“Things like extra little pillows, bulky coats in the winter, and securing the child in a car seat, but adding to that car seat,” said Splawn. “A good rule of thumb that we usually tell people is, if it’s not already with the car seat in the box, you don’t need it.”

If you live outside the reservation, resources are available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

You can find help in understanding the parts and tips used for installation, detailed car seat installation instructions and videos, and a place to get your car seat inspected near you.

Registering your car seat and signing up for recall notices to receive safety updates is also important.

“We tell our families they’re at great risk already, so let’s mitigate that risk as best we can,” said Splawn.

If you’re a new parent or would like to have your car seat checked, Splawn says you can set up an appointment by calling 580-642-6001. Applications for free car seats are also available on the Chahta Achvffa member portal.

There will be a car seat check event in Hugo on September 27 from 10 to 2.

The exact location has yet to be announced, but it will be posted on the Choctaw Nations events page and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Facebook page.