A passion for keeping kids safe

The middle of the back seat is always the safest since the child is the farthest away from any point of impact.

The best car seat is the one that fits the child, fits the vehicle, and is used correctly every time.

Counterfeit car seats are a growing problem due to online shopping. Though they may look legitimate, these seats often use poor-quality materials and haven't passed required safety tests. This creates serious danger for children during accidents.

Learn more at How to spot a counterfeit car seat: A safety guide

Certified child passenger safety technicians are also available to help you with safety checks and installation help. To request a car seat check appointment, please call (520) 324-2783 or see our Tucson Area Car Seat Fitting Stations for a list of agencies and phone numbers near you.

If you have a single cab truck, and must put the child there, it is crucial that you turn off the airbag. Read your vehicle owner’s manual for information on how to do so.

If you cannot turn the airbag off manually, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible from the air bag. Front airbags deploy up to 200 miles an hour, and can injure a child, even if they are in a child restraint.

It is NEVER recommended to buy a second-hand seat, or use any seat in which you don’t know the entire history. If a car seat has been in a crash, even a fender bender, it may need to be destroyed and replaced. Pieces inside the seat can break or be damaged during even a minor crash, and it’s not known if the seat will protect the child.

Did you know that car seats have expiration dates? It should be on your car seat. If you can’t find it, look for the manufacture date, and add six years. If a seat is older than six years, it needs to be replaced.

Any after-market items such as "seat saver," pads, head support pads, even toys that can be clipped into a child's car seat are not typically recommended. These products have not been tested by the car seat manufacturers, and therefore are not typically recommended. It is recommended to check with the seat manufacturer prior to using any after-market product with your child restraint. A good rule: only use items that come with your car seat.

Safety experts recommend using a seat with a five-point harness, which has five points of contact over the child’s hips and chest – the strongest parts of their body. The harness clip must be at the child’s armpit level. Many parents incorrectly put it on their child's tummy. This can cause damage to internal organs during a crash.

A good rule is to make your child's harness as snug as your seatbelt is on you. You don't want it so tight where it's uncomfortable, but it needs to be snug in order to eliminate a child's movement during a crash. Safety experts recommend using the "pinch test." Make sure you can't "pinch" any of the fabric up at the shoulder, and it's tight enough.

For any child who is rear-facing, the shoulder straps should be at the child's shoulders, or below, so that you have to pull them up and over the child’s shoulder’s just a little bit. For any child who is forward-facing should have their straps at, or above their shoulders.