In the Philadelphia area and beyond, the importance of properly installed child car seats cannot be overstated.
Data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form database in 2023 reveals that more than 70% of child car seats are not correctly installed.
This alarming statistic highlights common errors such as loose installations, improperly adjusted harnesses, and incorrect angles or belt paths.
Nathan Branosky, a public information officer and certified car seat technician with the Pennsylvania State Police, points out the serious consequences of these mistakes.
“Incorrectly installed car seats can be serious,” he asserts, warning that such errors can lead to seat belt ejections, spinal cord injuries, and head injuries.
He also advises parents to ensure that components like mirrors are securely installed and recommends avoiding loose items in vehicles that could become projectiles during a collision.
In response to this ongoing issue, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has been active in providing resources for parents, hosting multiple car seat check events each month.
While these events have traditionally taken place in-person, the pandemic forced a creative pivot toward virtual options in 2020, which have proven effective.
CHOP’s recent research indicates that these virtual consultations have been successful in helping parents install car seats correctly.
Nicole Kus, a postdoctoral research fellow at CHOP, noted the positive feedback from parents who participated in the virtual check sessions.
She recounted how one parent described the service as a “huge lifeline” during the initial lockdown phase, while another parent expressed a desire for virtual options to continue even after in-person sessions resume.
Surveys conducted with over 100 participants from 2020 to 2022 revealed a striking outcome—by the end of the virtual check-up sessions, all participants had successfully installed their car seats correctly.
Gina Duchossois, an injury prevention manager at CHOP, mentioned that offering virtual options has been essential in expanding their reach.
“It could be: they’re in a rural community, or they’re too far from one of our in-person events … So it’s really been able to help us grow our car seat check program,” she explained.
While virtual checks serve a vital purpose for parents unable to attend physical appointments, Branosky emphasizes the value of face-to-face interactions with certified technicians.
“Obviously, something was better than nothing as far as providing parents and caregivers instructions on how to properly install a car seat, but nothing is better than having an on-site appointment with a trooper or somebody certified,” he stated.
As CHOP continues to provide both in-person and virtual appointments, the dual approach allows for greater accessibility and support for families looking to ensure their children’s safety.
With the persisting challenge of child car seat misinstallation, initiatives like these play a critical role in educating and uplifting parents in the community.
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