Ford 2001 Escape Owner's Manual page 136

Seating and safety restraints
If you install a child seat with LATCH attachments, do not tighten the
tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the seat when the child is
seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without raising the front of
the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the front of the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash. Once you have
installed the lower anchors for child seat installation safety seat, assure
that the seat is properly attached to the lower anchors for child seat
installation and tether anchors. Also, test the safety seat before you
place the child in it. Tilt the seat from side to side. Also try to tug the
seat forward. Check to see if the anchors hold the seat in place.
If the safety seat in not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
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