DULUTH, Minn. -- Winter came to northern Minnesota early in 2020. Cold temperatures and snow require warm jackets, snow pants, hats and mittens. Parents strive to keep their child warm and safe, but did you know bulky coats can interfere with car seat harness effectiveness?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a child is involved in a crash while riding as a passenger in a vehicle every 32-seconds in the United States. It’s important to ensure children are properly secured in the right sized car seat for your child’s age and size with a fitted harness. However, heavy winter coats with too much bulk can create extra room in the harness, causing a loose fit. Too loose of a fit in a car seat could put your child at risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Deputy Fire Marshal, Corwin Groom, from the City of Duluth Fire Department – Life Safety division suggests “dressing your child in layers and removing the outermost layer before placing your child in the seat.’ Corwin also suggests “placing a blanket over the child to keep him or her warm after the child is securely fastened in the car seat.”
NHTSA also suggests covering your child with a heavier coat backwards on top of a fitted harness.
You can find winter safety and many more car seat safety tips at www.safekids.org/ultimate-car-seat-guide/