Choosing the right car seat for your child and installing it correctly can be overwhelming. Akron Children’s understands this concern and offers a comprehensive car seat program to help parents and caregivers ensure their children are safe on the road. This guide will walk you through the key aspects of the Akron Children’s car seat program, from selecting the appropriate seat to professional installation checks and discount opportunities.
Selecting the right car seat is the first step in ensuring your child’s safety. Age, height, and weight are the primary factors in determining the best car seat for your child. To simplify this process, Akron Children’s provides a helpful car seat selector guide. This guide is an excellent resource to understand the different types of car seats and which one is appropriate for your child’s current stage of development.
Once you have chosen a car seat, proper installation is crucial. Incorrect installation significantly reduces the effectiveness of the car seat. While installation guidelines and videos specific to your car seat model are readily available online by searching the model number (usually found on a sticker on the side of the seat), Akron Children’s goes a step further by offering professional assistance.
For children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats, booster seats are the next important step before transitioning to seat belts alone. Booster seats position the seat belt correctly over a child’s body, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury in a crash. Children aged four to eight using booster seats are 45% less likely to sustain serious injuries in an accident compared to those using seat belts alone. But how do you know when your child is ready to move out of a booster seat? Akron Children’s recommends checking the following:
- Does your child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
- Do your child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?
- Does the shoulder belt cross your child’s shoulder between their neck and arm?
- Is the lap belt positioned as low as possible, touching your child’s thighs?
- Can your child maintain this position for the entire trip?
If you answer “no” to any of these questions, your child still needs a booster seat.
It’s also vital to remember that all children under 13 years old should ride in the back seat. Passenger seat airbags are designed for adults and can pose a serious injury risk to children under this age. The back seat is the safest place for children of this age group.
Akron Children’s provides invaluable hands-on support through NHTSA-certified technicians who offer professional car seat checks and installations. These services are available at the Akron campus through the External Affairs office. To schedule an appointment at the Akron campus, please call (330) 543-8942. For residents in Summit County, certified Safe Kids Summit County technicians offer additional car seat inspection stations throughout the county. For those closer to the Beeghly Campus, car seat checks and installations can be arranged by calling (330) 729-9254.
To further support the community, the Akron Children’s car seat program extends to income-eligible families by providing brand new car seats at a discounted price. Families receiving government assistance such as WIC or Medicaid are eligible for this program. Alongside the discounted car seat, caregivers receive comprehensive education on proper car seat usage and vehicle installation. This education covers crucial aspects like correct seat angle, seat tightness, and harness adjustment, ensuring maximum safety for the child. To register for the car seat distribution program, please contact the External Affairs department at 330-543-8942 or, for the Mahoning Valley area, call 330-729-9254. When registering, be ready to provide your name, phone number, zip code, and the child’s age and weight or due date if you are pregnant. Akron Children’s employees are also eligible to purchase seats at cost plus tax; please call External Affairs at extension 38942 for pricing and availability.
For scheduled car seat appointments, please note the following addresses:
Akron Campus: 300 Locust Street Suite #160 Akron, OH 44308
Beeghly Campus: 6505 Market Street Building A Boardman, OH 44512
Akron Children’s also manages the Safe Mobility Project website, a valuable online resource for parents. This website offers a wealth of information to assist parents in selecting the right car seat, understanding installation procedures, and even getting their car seat installation checked. Notably, the website is available in 7 languages, making child passenger safety information accessible to a broader community. Beyond car seats, the Safe Mobility Project website includes resources on bike safety, bicycle helmet fitting, and driving safety information for new teen drivers.
Image: A screenshot of the Safe Mobility Project website, highlighting its multilingual resources and information on car seats, bike safety, and teen driving.
Akron Children’s car seat program is a testament to their commitment to child safety. By providing resources, education, and accessible programs, Akron Children’s empowers families to protect their children on every journey. Take advantage of these valuable services to ensure your child’s safety and travel with confidence.
