SAFETY SQUAD BLOG

30 lb booster seats: It's time for a change (PART 2)

We just returned from Lifesavers 2008 in Portland, Oregon. Among other things, this conference focuses on car seat safety. Unlike the ABC Conference in Las Vegas which is geared to retailers, this conference focuses on car seat technicians and the challenges they face.

One topic we addressed was the 30 lb booster seat issue. Booster use is rising as states are requiring parents to use boosters or higher-weight harnesses to increased ages, weights and heights. This provides manufacturers a more robust market for selling...

It's for Turbulence, not the Crash!

On our trip out to Portland for the Lifesavers 2008 conference, we were surrounded by parents and kids. I was ready with my Bose noise canceling headphones, but alas.. no need. These kids were pretty well behaved. Two infants, two toddlers, one four year old, but no seats.   

We asked the flight attendant for a completely unscientific estimate of how many infants travel in seats on her flights. She guessed about 5%. Based on her rock solid numbers, we thought 95% non-use was worth a post. Let's cut to the chase.

Here are the most commonly cited reasons for not using a seat on the plane:

1. Too expensive to buy extra seat or two (most airlines don't give discounts for an extra seat)...

When the car seat was in its infancy.

Remember when you were a kid? Maybe a lap belt, but often nothing. Sprawled across the back dash or wrestling in the back seat... this is what I remember. We had no worries, and apparently neither did our parents. But some did employ the latest technology to inject a little known thing called "safety" into our little lives.

When you look at these pictures, safety seems like a strong word, but this is where our industry started. We've come a long way. Car seats save lives, but not as many as they could.  For now, let's laugh at where we started and be thankful to these pioneers.

If you have some great pictures, please send them in. Thanks to Carole, N. + Flickr for the pics.

Recall Notice: Discovery Model 3021769Z & 3021854Z

This is the second recall for the Discovery model this year. This recall was reported March 28th, 2008.  If you own this car seat.  Please be aware not only of this recall, but of the February 1st, 2008 Recall to determine which applies to you. No Safety Squad clients are affected by this recall. From Evenflo Discovery Model 3021769Z & 3021854Z

Attention Evenflo Model 3021769Z and 3021854Z Car Seat Owners If you purchased an Evenflo Model "302Z" Discovery Infant Car Seat during March 11-21, 2008 at a local Wal-Mart or Target Store, please contact Evenflo immediately. Due to recent manufacturing variability, a small number of Evenflo Discovery Model 3021769Z and 3021854Z car seats may have shipped without complete assembly of the red release handle located on the back of the seat. Under certain conditions, this may cause the seat to separate from its base, possibly resulting in serious injury. The affected Discovery seats were built on February 4, 2008 with model numbers 3021769Z and 3021854Z.