SAFETY SQUAD: Empowing Your Family

Dog Restraints Protect Humans, Then Dogs

This week two people died in a Wisconsin Car crash after a dog jumped into the drivers lap. This was avoidable, that's why we don't call them "crashes", not "accidents".  Read Article

This is our post from May 2008.

The purpose of a dog restraint is to protect the humans in the car from flying dogs. It may seem strange, but any loose item in the car can become a projectile in a crash. This includes unbuckled people and dogs, not to mention all of the items you need just to get the kids out of the house (stroller, diaper bag, etc.).

Yes, seatbelts can save the dog’s life, too. But keeping Fido from flying around in a crash is going to benefit the human occupants the most. Invest in a dog restraint and maybe even a cargo net to keep all of those loose items in the car from flying around during a crash. For more information: Check out this Consumer Reports article.

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)...

Traveling Tips from Safe Kids USA

Infants and toddlers on airplanes are safest in a car seat with a harness, in case of turbulence. A child who rides in a car seat on the ground should ride in that car seat on a plane. Air turbulence can be dangerous and can appear suddenly without warning.

Not all car seats can fit on standard airplane seats, which are typically about 16 inches wide, but Safe Kids Worldwide and the Federal Aviation Administration strongly recommend using a car seat if it fits. As in cars, babies under a year old and 20 pounds are best restrained in a rear-facing car seat, and a forward-facing car seat can protect toddlers up to 40 pounds or more. Make sure your child’s car seat is labeled “certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.”

You need your child’s car seat to travel to and from the airport anyway, and car rental companies might not have reliable car seats available. Also, children who ride in car seats on the ground appear to be more comfortable and better behaved when using one on a plane.

Children who have outgrown car seats should sit directly on the airplane seat and, like all passengers, keep the lap belt buckled across their thighs or hips. Booster seats cannot be used on airplanes, because they require shoulder belts and airplane seats have only lap belts.

The FAA advises travelers with small children to reserve a pair of seats by a window. Car seats are not allowed in aisle seats or exit rows, where they could block emergency escape routes; they must be installed at a window seat. Most airlines offer a significant discount for children under 2.

Adult air travelers should buckle up, too. You’re a role model. Children learn safety behavior by watching parents and caregivers. Safe Kids Worldwide released a study in 2005 showing a strong correlation between adult safety habits and children’s safety behavior.

For more information about child passenger safety on airplanes, visit the FAA’s Flying With Children page. For information about car seats and child passenger safety in general, visit the Safe Kids Buckle Up page.

At Your Destination: Be Wary of Hotel Cribs

Safe Kids Worldwide also cautions travelers to take a close look at cribs provided by hotels. In several random surveys from 2001-2006, Safe Kids Worldwide found many hotel-issued cribs to be defective, damaged or even recalled from the market.

If you can bring your own folding playpen, that’s better than relying on borrowed cribs. If you must use a hotel’s crib, inspect it carefully for broken or missing parts and look up the model on Recalls.gov to make sure it isn’t subject to any safety notices.

Visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s crib safety page for more information.