Wal-Mart, Law Enforcement Officers to Provide Car-Seat Safety Inspections

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
October 11, 2001

According to the National Safety Council, nine out of 10 child car seats are incorrectly installed -- a troubling reality that endangers millions of young riders each day. But there’s good news: Parents can easily fix the problem by learning the right way to install their children’s car seats. And Wal-Mart is helping.

Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 18-20, local law enforcement officers will be at 1,500 Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Expresses across the country at selected times to inspect child car-seat installation and teach parents the right way to protect their young children.

In addition, associates from Wal-Mart’s Tire and Lube Express will be on hand to conduct free tire inflation and tread-depth checks. Trained technicians will properly inflate customers’ tires and perform tread-depth analyses, which will help determine how many safe miles remain on tires before replacement is recommended.

"We appreciate the help of our local law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of children in car seats," said Mike Bennett, vice president, Tire and Lube Express, for Wal-Mart. "And as a further thanks to our customers, we’re helping them make sure the tires they ride on are safe and properly inflated."

For more information about these free services in your community, contact your nearest Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express. Also, look below at the Quick Safety Seat Checkup provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Throughout October, Wal-Mart is teaming up with the National Safety Council on a variety of Safety Month activities at Wal-Mart stores. Events focus on fire, food, medicine cabinet and shopping cart safety.

Quick Safety Seat Checkup

Provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

#1 - Does your child ride in the back seat?

    The back seat generally is the safest place in a crash.
    If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children 12 and under to ride in back.

#2 - Does your child ride facing the right way?

    Infants should ride in rear-facing restraints, preferably in the back seat, until about age 1 and at least 20-22 pounds.
    Infants who weight 20 pounds before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear-facing weights.
    Always read your child restraint owner manual for instructions on properly using the restraint.
    Children over age 1 and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.

#3 - Does the safety belt hold the seat tightly in place?

    Put the belt through the right slot. If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt slots for each direction.
    The safety belt must stay tight when securing the safety seat. Check the vehicle owner’s manual for tips on using the safety belts.

#4 - Is the harness buckled snugly around your child?

    Keep the straps over your child’s shoulder. The harness should be adjusted so you can slip only one finger underneath the straps at your child’s chest. Place the chest clip at armpit level.

#5 - Does your child over 40 pounds have the best protection possible?

    Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until 40 pounds. Then use a belt-positioning booster seat that helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better.
    A belt-positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80 pounds. It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt. Check on special products for heavy children too active to sit still in a booster.

#6 - How should a safety belt fit an older child?

    The child must be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child’s back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh about 80 pounds.

For more information, call the Auto Safety Hotline: 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.