Of special importance is the department's participation in the Child Car Seat Safety Inspection Program. On the last Friday of each month (except on Holiday weekends), parents are given free instruction on how to safely secure car seats with the proper placement of seat belts and restraints by a certified inspector who will install your car seat. Citizens may call (517) 321-6622 for an appointment.

WHY USE A CAR SEAT?

The law throughout the United States says that babies and children must ride in child safety seats until they're old enough to wear seat belts.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1-5 in the United States. Correct use of car seats could prevent many of these tragedies.

In a crash at 30 miles per hour, a 10-pound baby could be ripped from an adult's arms with a force of almost 200 pounds and hurled into the dash or windshield.

WHEN TO USE A CAR SEAT

Use a car seat ALL THE TIME and on EVERY TRIP.

Don't make the deadly mistake of using a car seat only on freeways or long trips. Most car crashes happen within 25 miles of home.

Be sure any friends, relatives or babysitters a child rides with have correctly installed safety seats they use every time the child is in the car.

WHAT KIND OF CAR SEAT

Infants up to 20 pounds should ride facing the rear of the vehicle in an infant-only or convertible safety seat (seats that convert from rear-facing for infants to forward-facing for toddlers).

Children weighing about 20 to 40 pounds should ride facing forward in convertible safety seats or harness systems.

Children who have outgrown their convertible seats or harnesses should ride in booster seats until adult safety belts fit them properly.

Booster seats may be either the small shield or belt-positioning type. Older children may wear safety belts when: the lap belt stays low and snug across the hips without riding up over the stomach and the shoulder belt does not cross the face or front of the neck. Never allow children to place the shoulder part of the safety belt under their arms.

An approved child safety seat has a label that says: "This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards." This label is usually on the back of the car seat.

If you plan to use the safety seat on an airplane, the label should read: "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."

Reprinted with permission from the Lansing Area Safety Council.