posted 23/01/10

3 Out Of 4 Adults Fall Short On Youngster Car Seat Safety - Are You Among Them

Parents go out of their way to choose the right car seat for their baby. A lot of time and money is spent on giving their kid the most protection that they can. It is strange with all of that though that the numbers of misuse incidents are absurdly high as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently reports that 75% of all parents do not use kid restraints correctly.

The results of this study conclude that 3 of 4 parents put their children at risk while in vehicles unknowingly because they do not use the restraints properly. Things like loose harnesses and seat belt attachments were the largest items found. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also calls these misuses “critical” because of the potential for injury.

So how am I to understand the fitting safety setup for my child?

First, make sure you are using the right seat - in the proper position — for your baby’s age and weight. Most infant seats can be used in the rear-facing position for children under one year of age who have not yet reached 20 pounds.

A exceptionally great choice for newborn babies is the infant only seat as they are designed for younger and smaller babies. They offer a good fit and are conveniently small and portable. These infant car seats should only be installed facing the rear of the vehicle and located in the back seat as with all car seats.

If you desire a seat that will accommodate your baby as she grows, a convertible seat is another option. These are much larger and heavier than a ordinary newborn car seat so they can be used as your kid ages and gets bigger.These car seats are still to be used in the rear facing position for any child that is under one year of age or it doesn’t weigh 20 pounds yet. After your baby turns a year old and grows to be over 20 pounds you can turn the seat around and face it forward. Convertible car seats has a standard will hold a kid up to around 40 pounds.

Proper use of a baby’s car seat is an absolute necessity no matter which style you choose. If your car is newer then chances are it will have instructions for car seat installation so you need to pay attention to this as well as the manufacturers instructions on the seat. The only way that the seat will protect your kid is if the child is buckled in right and the seat is secured correctly in the car.

Harness straps seem to be an area of particular difficulty for parents. In order for your baby to be safe, the harness needs to be fitted snugly to your babies chest and in the proper slot position. When installing the straps make sure that if it is a convertible seat that you place the straps and slots at or above the baby shoulders and if it is a regular infant seat they need to be at or below the baby shoulder height. The harness clip that holds the straps together should be at about armpit level, and the straps should not be twisted. In order to make sure that you are placing it correctly always referred to the owners manual.

Another common area with problems is the safety belts. If it’s at all possible, the seat requirements to be reclined at around a 45 angle and the belt needs to follow the correct path for the seats position. You could use a rolled up towel under the base in order to help secure the seat in the best positioning. In order to make sure that the seat stays restrained in the vehicle tighten up the seat belt as securely as you can. If your car has a latch system installed, then it is essential that you make use of it otherwise it does no good.

You also need to consider how old the seat is in and the condition that it is in. If your seat wasn’t purchased new, check the label. Don’t trust the safety of your child in a seat that is more than five years old and doesn’t have any manufacturers instructions along with it. It is important that you know whether the car seat has been in any accidents and that all of the parts are there. Don’t take a chance on anything you are unsure of.

Finally, if you are unsure about your safety seat sense - or even if you are, visit a safety seat technician to have your seat checked.The life of your baby is depending on your judgment.

There are many sites on the net to buy car seats for sale. If you are searching for a convertible car seat then you will do very well on getting a good price by going to http://babystrollersandcarseats.net/convertible-car-seats.php

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posted 19/01/10

LED Emergency Vehicle Lights A Logical Choice

LED emergency vehicle lights are making quite a splash lately in the media and at retailers everywhere. There is a rush to switch many conventional lighting to these type of lights. Using LED emergency vehicle lights are no exception. How many consumers really know what these lights are, or what LED stands for anyway?

Light Emitting Diode. Many people are under the impression that LED lights are a new technology. In fact they have been around for many years. The first commercial introduction of them was in 1962. At that time the lights were only available in red, and they produced a very low light. It was not suitable for the purposes of lighting up a room.

It is only with the advancements in modern technology that people are able to use these lights so many other purposes. They are now available in a three different wavelengths, each suitable for different uses. This is how it is possible that they can now be used for domestic lighting.

LED lights offer many advantages over traditional incandescent lighting. They have an exceptionally long life. There is not an agreed upon way of measuring the lifespan of the lights, but it is fair to say that it outlasts the average regular bulb. The actual estimates have ranged from 25000 hours to 50000 hours. They vary considerably based on the temperatures that the measurements were taken at.

These lights consume considerably less energy than their conventional alternatives. Overall energy costs and consumption can be lowered in one shot. The compactness of them means that the design can be adapted for nearly any purpose. This feature makes them extremely versatile. They have also not been given to breaking as incandescent bulbs can.

The most apparent disadvantage of the LED is that they are very expensive to buy. While the cost cutting that they help with will pan out in the long run, the upfront investment can be a bit much for people. A lesser known drawback is that they require a considerable amount of heat management in order to be fully optimized. This has contributed to the inability to accurately test their capabilities. The last piece against them is while they can direct light very well, illuminating to fill a space with light is not their strength.

The first function of LEDs were to be in cars for warning lights. They have also become very popular as the external signals on a car. To utilize them for the siren lights on top of emergency transports is now increasing in popularity. Unlike other types of lights, these do not need reflectors. Most important is their durability. They are able to withstand considerable vibration and shock.

LED emergency vehicle lights seem to be a very cost-effective move. While the initial cost of the lights are higher than that of others, their life, durability, and energy saving features will mean that lights will have to be replaced far less often. The energy savings will add up over time and more than make up for the upfront cost of the lights.

Want to find out more about LED emergency vehicle lights, then visit Mark Miller’s site on how to choose the best lights for your needs.

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