Writer: Linda Anderson, (979) 862-1460,lw-anderson@tamu.edu
Contact: Marlene Albers, (979) 862-4658,ma-albers@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION - Sometimes it feels like we live in our cars. Everybody’s got to be somewhere work, school, day care, soccer practice, band camp, scout meetings, football practice, dance class … the list goes on and on. When the going gets too tough, the answer may be a car pool.
Sharing the transportation duties with other parents can be a time- and gas-saver. But the Rural Passenger Safety team of Texas Cooperative Extension reminds drivers: When taking children to activities, the rule is One Child, One Restraint.
Nissan Motor Co. recently studied car pooling and determined that the average age of car pool parent drivers is 40; the average number of children car pooled is three; and more than half of car pool trips are made to school, followed by sports, music lessons and scouting, in that order. Than means an average of seven hours a week traveling about 15 miles to pick up and deliver children at their various activities.
That’s a lot of time, said Marlene Albers, Extension passenger safety education associate, and brings a lot of issues to consider. In fact, she said, car pooling involves a lot more than getting in the car and going.
“Passenger safety is the first step to successful car pooling, but consider … discipline, being on time, snack policy in the vehicle, food allergies and emergency phone numbers,” Albers said. “Never start your car without telephone numbers of the other parents at home and work and the names of back-up family or friends who can be called in an emergency.”
First, passenger safety. Because cars’ safety features are designed for adult bodies, these devices themselves may be a danger for small passengers.
“Child safety seats and safety belts, when correctly used and correctly installed, can prevent injury and save lives,” Albers said.
The children’s age and size is the major consideration when it comes to safety restraints in a vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says children age 4 to 8 years or 40 to 70 pounds should ride in booster seats with the lap/shoulder belt placed correctly across the hips and chest. (Don’t let the shoulder belt cross the face or neck.)
“Even some children up to age 12 may be small in stature, and the safest position for them will be in a booster seat,” Albers said. “A booster seat is a necessary intermediate step between and child safety seat and a safety belt.”
Children who are older than 8 years and heavier than 70 pounds should fit into the lap/shoulder belt system installed in vehicles, she said. When a child’s knees bend at the edge of the seat, he or she is big enough for the built-in safety belt.
But remember, Albers advised, make sure the safety belts fit snugly and don’t let children put shoulder straps behind their backs or under their arms.
And all children age 12 or younger should ride in the back seat for greater safety.
Once the children are all restrained safely and correctly, the possibility of boredom arises. Bryan Independent School District’s Parent Education Partnership Program offered some suggestions for activities while riding in a car:
– Load a “curiosity bag” with child-safe objects such as small toys, large buttons, bath scrunchies, small containers, plastic lids, spoons and spools. Let the kids explore in the bag and discuss the contents and how they are used. Change contents of the bag often.
– Tell stories using props found at home.
– Sing, either a cappella or with a tape.
– Provide lap desks and washable crayons or markers. (However, remember crayons can melt in a car during the hot summer months.)
– Make sock puppets and let the kids put on puppet shows in the car.
– Make music with homemade instruments; play along with the radio or tape, or let the kids make up their own songs. (Hint: Musical instruments can be used as rewards or during “down time.”)
And, above all, keep your cool.
“The most important activity’ for car pools is the adult attitude,” Albers said. “Car pooling takes a lot of time. Planning ahead and having reasonable expectations will make the excursions less stressful for all vehicle occupants.”
For more information visit the Extension Family and Consumer Web site at http://fcs.tamu.edu/ and click on the link to Health and Safety and go to Rural Passenger Safety Education. Or go directly to http://fcs.tamu.edu/SAFETY/CPS.html and click on the link to Car Pools and the Buckle Rule.
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