| Denice - New York16 April 2007 |
|
To the Miller Family, the Perry Family,
and the Broadhead Family:
I am writing to you today because I finally
took my van for a long overdue car seat inspection. My experience
was a little unsettling and I wanted to share this story
with you.
There were at least four police officers
who were also certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians
on the inspection site. Two of the officers greeted me when
I pulled up, everyone was very friendly and tried to be
helpful. After they took a few minutes to see if my seats
were installed properly they turned to me and said "These
seats are installed very well, who installed them for you?"
I was so proud to reply that I myself had installed the
seats on my own. I guess all my reading on your sites and
then websites you recommend about car seat safety really
paid off, I was happy to know that I had installed my seats
correctly.
Then, the officers unlatched the seats
so that they could read the model numbers and look up any
recalls. It was then that they addressed an issue with my
Britax Boulevard. The back of the car seat was touching
the back of the driver seat in front of it. I had purchased
the Boulevard for my 16 month old and he weighs 26 pounds.
I had originally had him forward facing in his old car seat
but after reading the studies/research, after I bought the
Boulevard I decided I would turn him around to rear facing
again. I felt good about that decision, I felt like he would
definitely be safer this way (according to reports I had
read).
I really thought I remembered reading
that it was alright if the front seat was slightly touching
the back of the rear facing car seat, as long as the front
seat was not "pushing" on the car seat behind
it. I was informed that the seats in front of a rear facing
car seat should have no contact with the car seat. We could
not push the front driver seat forward any more than it
already was because then I would be pushed too close to
the steering wheel. I asked the officers if they could move
the car seat to the next seat, the one behind the front
passenger seat. (I own a Windstar minivan, it has two separate
front seats, two separate middle seats, and then a third
row bench for three.)
They tried this but said the car seat
was still touching the front seat, even with that seat pushed
up as far as it would go. So, they said they would have
to switch it to forward facing. I was not pleased with this,
I think they could tell. Then they tried to assure me that
my little boy, at his age and weight, 16 months and 26 pounds,
would be just as safe forward facing! This really upset
me since I had read exactly the opposite! I had specifically
read that children should stay in a rear facing position
for as long as possible. The officers told me that "No,
your little boy will be just as safe forward facing."
I kept my cool and explained to them that I had read that
a child that small is much more likely to sustain serious
neck/spinal injuries in an accident if they are forward
facing. And then one of the officers proceeded to tell me
that her 13 month old baby who weighs only 22 pounds is
forward facing in her car and she loves it and is much happier
since she is forward facing and can see mommy! I thought
to myself, since when does a baby's mood come before the
baby's safety?!
After talking about this issue for about
10 minutes, a couple more officers approached us to see
what was going on. I stood there as four officers tried
to tell me that my boy would be just as safe facing forward
and that he would be happier facing me and that because
of the bulk of the car seat, it just would not fit safely
facing rear. Finally, I agreed to let them put the car seat
in forward facing knowing that I would come home and investigate
this and write to all of you about it. I would much rather
have my son rear facing, but of course, if he cannot safely
be rear facing in my van, then I will leave him forward
facing. I guess what upset me the most was the fact that
these technicians seemed to have little if no knowledge
of the fact that children should stay rear facing as long
as possible. Instead, they acted as if there were no difference
at all. I wonder if they were not aware of this, and if
so, why not.
When all was done I thanked everyone involved
and then turned to talk to one of the officers who was still
standing nearby. I had wanted so much to share Kyle's story,
as well as Toni and Belle's stories, with the people there,
but the whole issue with the one car seat had taken over
and I was disappointed that my chance had passed by. I wondered
quickly "How can I bring up these children's stories?"
Then, the officer turned to me and told me that I had made
wise purchases and that my car seats were of really good
quality. He pointed out that once my oldest son Robbie turned
40 pounds that the car seats I had would then serve as booster
seats with an adult seat belt. Here was my chance! I told
him that I would not be using the booster seat with the
adult belt system. I told him about Kyle and how his seat
belt had failed and that he was thrown from his van in an
accident and killed at the tender age of 3. The officer
mentioned that it was very sad and tragic what had happened
to Kyle but that usually seat belts don't fail and most
likely if they do it is because they weren't buckled or
latched correctly in the first place. As you can imagine
this got my blood boiling! I have seen report after report
on your website about accidents where seat belts had failed
and unlatched during accidents! My own cousin had been in
a car accident with her baby girl buckled in using a seat
belt on the infant car seat; upon impact the baby's seat
belt unlatched but luckily the infant car seat was only
tossed around the car a bit but was not ejected. My cousin
knew how to buckle a seat belt, most people do I suppose,
it is not a difficult task. I refuse to believe that all
those people who lost their lives because of a failed seat
belt died because they didn't know how to use the seat belt!
I then went on to tell him that even if
the seat belt works and holds a child in a booster seat,
that very seat belt can kill a child if they are too small
to be using this system. He was surprised and asked how
that could be if they were 40 lbs. or over. I then went
on to tell him about Belle and Toni. I told him how their
precious lives were also taken in car accidents because
of the adult seat belts that were restraining them. This
information was new to him and I sensed that maybe he was
a little embarrassed that he didn't know it; behind him
sat a truck full of boxes carrying brand new booster seats
in them, the ones you use with adult seat belts. Apparently
these were booster seats that they were giving out to children
who were 40 lbs. and over who did not have one.
After telling him all about this, I concluded
that for those very reasons my kids would not be using the
booster seats once they reached 40 pounds but instead that
we would come up with the money to buy them car seats with
5 point harnesses that hold up to an 80 lb. child. The officer
said he never even knew that they had car seats with the
5 point harness out there that held kids that heavy!!! Again
I was amazed that this information is not known to all police
officers and CPS technicians! That to me is just crazy!!
The officer actually said he was happy
that he got the chance to talk to me, and that his kids
are all grown but that he now has his first grandchild and
he is looking into what car seat to buy for the little one
in the future.
So, in the end I guess it was a productive
visit! I really was upset inside when I left though, I was
all worked up. I just wonder why these people do not have
the information that I have learned about since learning
of Kyle and then Belle and Toni. ?? But, at least I was
able to get Kyle, Toni, and Belle's stories out there. And
maybe one more child will be safer because of it. Maybe
when that officer goes to buy his grandchild the next car
seat or when he talks to his son or daughter about their
choices in car seats, maybe he will remember today and take
all that I told him into consideration.
I am working on sending the police department
a thank you card and will insert a few of Kyle's kindness
cards inside so that they may go online and learn about
Kyle and all the new reports and research out there concerning
car seat safety. I wish that I had something similar, like
Kyle's little cards, that tell about Belle and Toni as well.
But I will definitely mention their website in my thank
you note.
Sorry for such a long-winded email! I
just wanted to share this story with you. It is really unbelievable
to me that the very people who are trained to help us keep
our kids safe as far as car seat usage do not have updated
information when it comes to this issue! Am I wrong to be
so upset? Inside me says "No!" Despite all of
this, please know that I am very grateful for police officers
and CPS Technicians all over the country/world who take
the time to do what they do. Without them there would be
many more people improperly installing their car seats or
using them incorrectly. I am hoping that one day the laws
will change and it will be mandatory that children under
30 lbs. and/or the applicable height will need to remain
rear facing and that children up to 80 lbs. and/or the required
height will need to be in 5 point harness car seats.
God bless you all. I keep you in my hearts
every single day. I am so sorry for all of your precious
losses. Your children are all beautiful little gems and
you are all angels for doing what you do to help other children
in their memory.
Sincerely,
Denice from NY (USA) |
