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>> Shannon Kearns-DePatto: Today we are going to talk about the forward-facing car seat.
This seat can be installed in your vehicle properly and safely, which is very important.
It's also important to remember to go by the manufacturer's weight and height requirements
of the seat, according to the child's age, weight, and height as well. It's important
to make sure this seat is installed properly, and does not move any more than an inch in
either direction. In order to install the forward-facing seat properly and safely, you
will either use the lower anchor system, or you will use the seatbelt system. First off,
let's show you the lower anchor system. These are located at the [inaudible] of your vehicle
seat, and the lower anchor strap is attached to the actual car seat. Since we are installing
forward-facing, you want to make sure that the lower anchor is going through the forward-facing
belt path, that's very important to make sure it's installed properly. The lower anchor
will then click onto the anchor in the vehicle, on one side as well as on the other side.
Once you have that in nice and tight, you will make sure to pull the adjustor strap
so the seat does not move any more than an inch in either direction. This is very crucial
in the event of a crash, making sure that's nice and tight. Once we have the lower anchors
attached, you will then attach the top tether, which comes out at the very top of the car
seat. This will be hooked on to the anchor in the back of your vehicle, and also pulled
tight to make sure there is no forward motion. In the event that you do not have the lower
anchors in your vehicle, you will use the seat belt. The seat belt is also another way
to properly install the car seat in your vehicle. In order to do so, you'll need to pull the
seat belt out for as much as you need to feed through the car seat. You will then feed your
seat belt through that forward-facing belt path, and buckle in. Once you have this nice
and buckled in, you will pull your seat belt out the whole way 'til it locks, and let it
go back in to allow that seat belt to be locked. Once you have that done, you will then pull
on your shoulder belt within the car seat, apply pressure on the seat itself, and pull
that shoulder belt to get it nice and snug. Because again, we don't want this to move
any more than an inch from side to side, so it is nice and snug. Once you have your seatbelt
done, you will then take your top tether, attach it to the tether anchor in the back
of your vehicle, and pull nice and snug. Again, this will prevent any forward motion. For
more information, or to schedule a car seat appointment, please contact the Pediatric
Trauma Injury Prevention Program at 717-531-SAFE, or visit us at our website at www.pennstatehershey.org/injuryprevention.