Well, winter has officially arrived, and with it come heavy coats and snowsuits. While they are a necessity to keep our kids warm and dry, they are not for kids travelling in car seats.

The truth is, it’s not safe to put thick coats, snowsuits or blankets under the harness straps of a car seat because the straps need to stay snug on the child. Coats and heavy snowsuits actually compress in a crash, which can create a lot of extra slack. This could cause your child to be ejected from the car seat in a crash.

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This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week! It’s a great time to brush up on the laws and best practices that are recommended to keep your child safe. Why should you care? Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for children in Wisconsin. Many of these injuries and deaths can be prevented.

What do you need to know?

Wisconsin Law: Children must be in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until they are BOTH 1 year old AND 20 pounds.
Best Practice: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stay rear-facing until they are at least 2 years old. Research shows children are 75 percent safer when they are rear-facing. We encourage you to follow this guideline.

Wisconsin Law: Children must be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness, in the back seat, until they are BOTH 4 years old AND 40 pounds.
Best Practice: Children are much better protected when restrained in a harness, than in a seat belt alone. New car seats on the market allow for higher harness weights of up to 50-80 pounds, so it is possible to keep them safer longer.

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Summer is the most dangerous time of year for children, which is why it’s also known as “trauma season.” These are the top five injuries that land kids in Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s Emergency Department every summer and how to avoid them. Keep your kids happy, healthy and out of the Emergency Department this summer!

1. Falls
Did you know that falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children?
To prevent falls at home:

• Always strap children into high chairs, swings and strollers.
• Remember that children can fall from windows opened as little as five inches.
• Never rely on window screens to prevent falls.
• Never let children play alone on fire escapes, high porches or balconies.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Keep hallways and stairs well lit and clear of clutter.
• Make sure there is a safe surface under playground equipment. Safe surfaces include mulch, pea gravel and shredded rubber at least nine to 12 inches deep and extending at least six feet in all directions around equipment.

2. Poisonings/Ingestions

• Teach your child to recognize and avoid poisonous plants like poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, which can cause an allergic reaction if they come in contact with the skin.
• Teach your child not to eat or touch any plants or flowers without asking you first. Many plants such as wild mushrooms and berries might look edible, yet they are poisonous. Even pretty flowers in the garden like azaleas, daffodils and rhododendron are toxic.
• In the garage, store dangerous chemicals like pesticides, gasoline, lighter fluid and  cleaners out of your child’s reach in a locked cabinet or garden shed.
• Keep chemicals in their original containers and add a Mr. Yuk™ sticker so your child knows the product is poisonous.
• If using pesticides, keep kids and pets away from the area until the pesticide has dried, or as long as recommended on the label.

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