Paramedics Share Car Seat Safety Advice Every Parent Needs To Hear

Their photo highlights the importance of adjusting car seat straps properly

When it comes to kids involved in car accidents, there’s a key factor in preventing tragedy — correct car seat use.

An Australian couple, both paramedics, took to Facebook this week to demonstrate exactly how important it is that a child be in a safe car seat with the straps properly adjusted.

Krystal Kleidon is the mom behind the Facebook page Project Hot Mess and also, a paramedic. So is her husband and together, along with their four-year-old son, they showed the world just how crucial it is that a child’s car seat straps be tight enough.

The image is pretty breathtaking.

First, note that chest clips are not used in Australia, so that’s why their son’s car seat doesn’t have any. Second, holy smokes.

This is a striking photo and certainly makes a point about the true purpose of a car seat — to make sure a child stays put, no matter what. In order for that to happen, the straps have to be tight. Probably a lot tighter than most parents think.

Kleidon begins her post by acknowledging what a hot-button issue car seats can be in the parenting world. “I’m a member of a lot of mothers groups and communities and the discussion around car seats is ALWAYS a heated one. People give their opinions on rear facing vs forward facing, side seat vs middle seat, chest clip height (FYI – Australia doesn’t use chest clips), straps, wearing jumpers… if there’s something to have an opinion on, it has been discussed before.”

She explains how with a combined 20+ years as paramedics, Kleidon and her husband are in the unique position of having witnessed plenty of kids surviving horrific car wrecks. The one thing all those very fortunate children had in common?

They were properly restrained in a safe car seat.

“Between my husband and I, in our 20 years experience, we have NOT seen a single child harmed in a car accident where the child was restrained in their seat properly. Not a single one,” she writes.

Wow.

Kleidon explains, “When you become a parent you spend AGES researching the ‘best’ car seat. You look for safety features, star ratings and reviews and fret over if you can afford the best. But, it doesn’t matter how much money you spend on a car seat if you DON’T strap your child in.”

The couple dispels the notion that in order for a child to be safe, the car seat should be a pricey one. That’s not how it works. “We’ve seen car seats ejected from vehicles, we’ve seen cars that have rolled over so many times you can barely tell which way is up, we’ve seen accidents where you would be certain there would be no survivors.”

“But in our experience, the biggest difference between a child’s safety hasn’t been if they were in the $600 car seat or the $200 one. It’s been about those straps,” she shares.

Kleidon gives a few pointers for ensuring the straps are pulled tightly enough, like making sure your child can’t pull their arms out and that you can only fit one or two fingers underneath the straps. She also mentions leaving out the puffy winter coats, since all that bulk will certainly prevent a parent from achieving a proper fit with the straps.

Her last bit of advice is where the photo comes in. “Would you be confident in doing THIS to them? Would you be confident in turning your child upside down in their seat?”

It’s horrifying to imagine getting into a car accident with your kids in the back seat, but it’s that imagining that can help parents understand the real purpose and function of a car seat — to hold a child safely in place should the unthinkable occur. If you wouldn’t feel confident turning your child upside down in their car seat, take Kleidon’s advice and give those straps a tug. Also, be sure to research strap placement for your child’s seat and verify that the chest clip and straps are placed correctly.

It could mean the difference between life and death.