SAFETY SQUAD BLOG

Safety 1st Vantage Investigation on NBC

 As part of this NBC Report, Safety Squad's Tom McQueen Investigated the seats in question:

A Chicago father's home video that apparently shows the failure of multiple child safety seats is getting some high-level attention.

Initially, Bryan Dussault said he wasn't surprised when he took a call last fall from his mother-in-law, who reported having difficulty with one of the straps on the Safety First Vantage Booster Car Seat, made by Dorel Juvenile Group of Columbus, Indiana.

That changed when he inspected the seat himself and found that it was impossible to secure a child in the seat because the strap wouldn't hold.

"I had a little bit of a tough time with the strap. Ultimately, I got it adjusted, but then was able to pull the harness loose without touching the levers again. That told me something was really wrong," Dussault said.

Making matters worse, he was able to duplicate the problem on another car seat of the same make and model that was in his own car.

Wear Your Seat Belt.. because we don't live in a fantasy world

Maxi Cosi Recall: February 5, 2010

The Maxi Cosi Mico had been recalled again. We're well aware of this issue and will post a video soon showing you what's wrong.  Check out the recall information below. Safety Squad Home Clients being notified.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 10C001

Synopsis:
Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) is recalling certain Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint systems, models 22-371 HFL, JUC, LMD, PNG, and ORE; 22-372 TTH; and Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint system - base only, model 22-515 BLK, produced from February 18, 2008 through June 28, 2008. Interference between the mounting bracket and the base caused by warping of the base or inadequate mating between the shell and the base mounting bracket can result in difficulty attaching or detaching the shell from the base. If the shell is improperly mounted to the base, the child could be injured in the event of a crash. DJG will notify all registered owners and will send a remedy kit consisting of two base springs, a hex wrench, and instructions for the base spring replacement. The repair kit is free of charge. The safety campaign is expected to begin on or about February 5, 2010. Owners may contact DJG at 1-877-657-9546.

For more information for this particular recall, please go to 10C001.

Previous Recall Post from July

Car Seat Saves Child in Fire: Part #1

Last week, 5 people died in a raging fire in Brooklyn, NY.  It's hard to see the positive, until we look at the lessons learned.  We will expand on this post in coming days, but wanted to focus on one aspect of the rescue.

A two-month old infant was dropped out of a 3rd floor window to the ground below and lived. In a frenzy the infant was placed in a car seat before being dropped. While the baby sustained injuries, it will survive.

In later posts, we'll discuss Smoke Detectors, Escape Ladders and the 411 on dialing 911, but first we're going to talk about that car seat.  As firefighters, we know that regardless of economic, cultural or geographical factors, parents and their children become trapped in their homes just like this family.

Lesson #1: You CAN use a car seat to lower children to safety.  Even in the most prepared household... one with fire ladders on all floors, few parents ever consider how they'll get their children (especially 2 and under) down their ladders. Climbing down escape ladders is not easy. By using an infant carrier or toddler seat w/rope attached, parents can safely lower a child to safety before they climb down the escape ladder.

Now, the car seat is not intended for this, but if you secure a baby "correctly" (more on this later) in the 5-point harness and secure the rope securely (before the fire), your family may be in a safer position.

At fires, I carry rope in my fire coat. I know that in some fires I won't have time to tie off before I jump, but having it gives me options. The same is true with a car seat and rope. Finally, this should not be your first method of escape for parents with infants/children. If you can escape another way, do that. This post will be evolving, so let us know your questions.

How should I dispose of an expired car seat?

We received an email asking us what to do with a car seat once it has expired. This is a great question and is the perfect follow-up for the "Do car seats have expiration dates?" post.  Thanks Kim B. for the question.

It's important to ensure that the seat is not reused by any parent for their child.  One effective way to do this is to remove the harness and dispose of it separately. Remove the padding, break it up and throw it out separately, as well.  Finally, use a permanent marker to write NOT SAFE FOR USE in large print in several locations on the shell. 

We have heard some people suggest that parents break up the shell with heavy tools. Safety Squad doesn't recommend this. We don't want anyone hurting themselves trying to destroy car seats. Seats can be difficult to destroy and tools can take high levels of skill to use safely. Not to mention, flying metal and plastic can cause serious injury.

Perhaps, you can drop the shell off at a recycling center in your community.  We checked in Chicago and car seats are not listed among their accepted items.  Maybe your community actually has a plan to accept retired car seats. Call your local government's information line for answers.

If you are so inclined... the best way to ensure that the seat is totally destroyed is to watch the garbage truck crush it on trash day.  Short of that, double bag it with heavy duty trash bags and tie it securely before throwing it in the garbage.  The idea is to make it hard for people picking through the trash to resurrect your dead seat.

We realize this seems like a lot of work...and it is, but your efforts can actually save a child's life. 

 

Safety Squad Advice: What infant car seat should I buy?

The easiest way to guide you into the right infant seat is to tell you the following: Most of the reviews, blogs, testing, polls, etc. you'll read rarely get you any closer to the best infant seat, than if you guessed. We actually work with car seats every day... in cars. The following is the best advice you'll get.

1. Don't buy a convertible seat for a newborn (AKA toddler seat). The harness slots are too high for almost all newborns.
2. Buy an infant seat with a built in lock-off. A lock-off will make installation in the middle easier and safer for baby.
3. Buy an infant seat with both a low starting weight and a high end weight/height.  "4 lbs to 30+ lbs".  Even full-term babies will fit better in these seats. Higher weight means staying rear-facing longer, which is good parenting.
4. Don't worry about stroller compatibility. If it happens to be compatible with your stroller, great, but don't abuse it. Babies get flat-head and breathing issues when they spend too much time in car seats.

5. Get instruction from a professional car seat technician. We are guiding you to a good seat, but it won't install itself.

Our top two picks:
1. Chicco KeyFit 30
2. Britax Chaperone

For families without a car (iGo, Zipcar, Rental, Taxi)
1. Combi Shuttle (has rebound bar built into the carrier). The Shuttle 33 will be released soon.  It only goes to 22 lbs when out of the base, but the fit is amazing while traveling.

New Car Seat Blanket for Cold Weather

We do most of our car seat business in Chicago. It shouldn't be a surprise to learn that most of the year it's very cold. There are very few infant car seats that include robust cold weather accessories (one notable exception is the Teutonia T Tario ). In response, endless aftermarket manufacturers have created solutions for keeping baby warm in the car seat. 

The problem with nearly all these products is that they solve one problem, then cause another. We don't like to see products that add padding behind the head, neck or back, restrict airflow or integrate with the harness.  At the very least, they are not tested by your car seat manufacturer. Nearly all carseats forbid use of these products.

Getting ready for baby's safety: Car Seat, CPR.. and Cord Blood Banking

Just like learning infant CPR and how to use your baby's car seat, Cord blood banking needs to be taken care of before you deliver your baby.

Every day we work with savvy, motivated parents who understand the importance of 'planning' to ensure their baby's safety. Have you thought about what to do with your baby's cord blood?  Your baby's cord blood contains precious stem cells that have the potential to treat or cure life-threatening illnesses. However, the cord blood is routinely discarded after delivery, as part of medical waste, unless you tell your health care team otherwise.

Expectant parents have the option to privately store their baby's cord blood or donate it to the public system.  When you donate, you give up the ownership rights to the cord blood, allowing it be used for the general public through the National Marrow Donor Program. If you are having a hospital delivery at one of the 37 LifeSource participating hospitals, there is a streamlined process in place for donation through this system. There is a critical shortage of cord blood within the public system, especially for minority populations.  Donation is free of charge, but you must call 6-8 weeks before delivery to register. To learn more, visit LifeSource.  Click for more..

It's a Safety Seat first... then a Stroller Seat

"Safety First!"  We hate this cliche. It says so little, so often.

But in this case, "Safety First" is actually an appropriate call to action. Parents are choosing their favorite stroller first and then a car seat that is compatible with that stroller. In the simplest terms, its a CAR SEAT first, then a stroller seat.

Why is this so important?
1. Some car seats are better than others, in general.
2. Some car seats fit better in your vehicle that others do.
3. Some infants fit better in certain infant carriers than others.

The point? The car seat that is compatible with your stroller, may not be compatible with your child or vehicle.

Just as important: It is not that important to match a car seat to a stroller. The AAP has found that infants are spending too much time in car seats... out of the car. This is leading to flathead syndrome, and as highlighted in a recent study, can reduce oxygen saturation levels in infants. The AAP recommends limiting the time your baby spends in the carrier or other upright seat and to ensure frequent breaks. This is especially true for pre-term and low birthweight babies. Essentially try to use the car seat only for travel. For long road trips, make stops often to allow baby time out of the car seat.

Our advice:

1. Make sure the infant seat is installed correctly
2. Learn how to fit baby correctly into the carrier (improved positioning optimizes oxygen exchange)
3. Keep it fresh. Don't abuse the convenience of the carrier. Align your practice with best practice (AAP).

We understand why parents are taking the Stroller-Car Seat route, but in the short term, the car seat is the most important piece of baby gear you can buy. *Revised from 9/2008

Recall Notice: Maxi-Cosi Mico July 1, 2007-February 17, 2008

Additional RECALL NOTICE: February 2010

Dorel Juvenile Group has announced a recall for their Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat for certain manufacture dates. Here is the link to the Office of Defects Investigation entry for the recall. Click here to go to Dorel Juvenile Group's website for information. Safety Squad is in the process of notifying all its clients.  We have included the recall vitals below:

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 09C005

Synopsis:
Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) is recalling certain Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint systems, models 22-371 and 22-372, and Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint system - base only, model 22-515, produced from July 2007 through February 17, 2008. Interference between the mounting bracket and the base caused by warping of the base or inadequate mating between the shell and the base mounting bracket can result in difficulty attaching or detaching the shell from the base. If the shell is improperly mounted to the base, the child could be injured in the event of a crash. DJG will notify all registered owners and will send a new Mico base to owners of the affected seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about July 24, 2009. Owners may contact DJG at 1-877-657-9546.

For more information for this particular recall, please go to 09C005.