We’ve seen quite a number of auto accidents occurring in the presence of icy road conditions in Oregon already this winter, making it especially important that you secure your most precious and vulnerable love ones in the event of an accident.
On January 23, 2014 at approximately 7:45 a.m., an Oregon State Police sergeant who had just come on duty drove upon a single vehicle rollover crash in which a 32-year old Redmond woman and her 10-month old child were trapped inside their overturned pickup along Shumway Road near Powell Butte Road. The sergeant confirmed the child was in a child safety seat uninjured and his mother had minor injuries. Crook County Fire & Rescue was in the area at another traffic crash and quickly got to the scene to extricate the woman and her child. Investigation indicated the woman lost control of the vehicle on the icy roadway and went into a ditch where it overturned on its top.
Readers should note that, although the vehicle overturned, the child in a safety seat was uninjured.
Here are some tips for correctly fitting and securing your child’s car seat:
- Properly position the harness on your child.Rear-facing seat: harness straps, lying flat not twisted, should be placed through the slot that at or below you child’s shoulders.Forward-facing seat: harness straps, lying flat not twisted, should be placed through the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders.
- Buckle and tighten the harness and the chest clip.The harness is snug enough when extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulder.
- Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
For tips on finding the right car seat for your child visit: www.safercar.gov
