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C_ h _i_ ld _ S _a _f_ e _t..a y __
ffll
Child Safety
Important
things
to know
Introduction
The rear seat is generally the safest place in a collision.
The physical principles of what happens when your vehicle is in a
crash apply also to children => page 211, "What happens to occu-
pants not wearing safety belts ?". But unlike adults and teenagers,
their muscles and bones are not fu lly developed. In many respects
children are at greater risk of serious injury in crashes than adults.
Because children's bodies are not fully developed, they require
restraint systems especially designed for their size, weight, and
body structure. Many countries and all states of the United States
and provinces of Canada have laws requiring the use of approved
child restraint systems for infants and small children.
In a frontal crash at a speed of 20-35 mph (30-56 km/h) the forces
acting on a 13-pound (6 kg) infant will be more than 20 times the
weight of the child. This means the weight of the child would
suddenly be more than 260 pounds (120 kg). Under these condi -
tions , only an appropriate child restra int properly used can reduce
the risk of serious injury. Child restraints, like adult safety belts,
must be used properly to be effective. Used improperly, they can
increase the ris k of serious injury in an accident.
Consult the child safety seat manufacturer's
instructions to be sure
the seat is right for your child's size=> page
246,
" Important safety
instructions for using child safety seats". Please be sure to read and
heed all of the important information
and WARNINGS about child
safety, Advanced Airbags, and the installation of child restraints in
this chapter.
There is a lot you need to know about the Advanced Airbags in your
vehicle and how they work when infants and children in child
restraints are on th e front passenger seat. Because of the la rge
Controls and equip-
ment
Safety first
Vehicle operation
amount of important information,
we cannot repeat it all here . We
urg e you to read the detailed information
in this owner's manual
about airbags and the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle and
the very important information
about transporting
children on the
front passenger seat. Please be sure to heed the WARNINGS - they
are extreme ly important for your safety and the safety of your
passengers, especially infants and small children.
&
WARNING
•
Accident statistics have shown that children are generally safer
in the rear seat area than in the front seating position. Always
restrain any child age 12 and under in the rear.
•
All vehicle occupants and especially children must be
restrained properly whenever riding in a vehicle. An unrestrained
or improperly restrained child could be injured by striking the inte-
rior or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden
maneuver or impact . An unrestrained or improperly restrained
child is also at greater risk of injury or death through contact with
an inflating airbag.
•
A suitable child restraint properly installed and used at one of
the rear seating positions provides the highest degree of protec-
tion for infants and small children in most accident situations.
&
WARNING
Children on the front seat of any car even with Advanced Airbags
can be seriously injured or even killed when an airbag inflates . A
child in a rearward-facing
child safety seat installed on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates.
•
The inflating airbag will hit the child safety seat or infant
carrier with great force and will smash the child safety seat and
child against the backrest, center arm rest, or door.
..,_
Vehicle care
Do-it-yourself service
Technical data
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