According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly. This means that four out of five children are at risk for serious injury or death in a motor vehicle crash.

As the only Level I Trauma Center in southwest Missouri, St. John’s is dedicated to preventing injuries and keeping your family safe.

St. John’s is a National Fitting Station for car seat inspections and a leader in child passenger safety education. We recommend that you always consult the manufacturer’s instructions before installing or using a car seat and have your car seat installation checked by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Protect Your Baby And Yourself

Some pregnant women fear that seatbelts and airbags can harm their unborn baby during pregnancy. The seatbelt actually helps protect your unborn baby from injury in a crash. Without the seatbelt you are more likely to be thrown from the vehicle. Plus, the injury rate increases for unbelted crash victims.

It is important to wear your seatbelt properly. First, you should sit upright. Place the lap belt under your expanding belly and as low on your hips as possible. The lap belt should pull against your pelvic bones, not your abdomen. The shoulder belt should be used as well. Position it so it crosses your chest between your breasts. If it cuts across your neck or face it may be necessary to adjust the seat itself. The seat belt should be worn as snugly as possible to protect you and your unborn baby from injury in a crash.

Airbags are designed to work with the seatbelt and absorb energy during a crash. No one should sit in front of an airbag without wearing a seatbelt! You should allow 11 inches between your chest and the area where the airbag is deployed. As your belly grows, move the seat back to keep as much distance as possible between the steering wheel and your belly while still allowing you to reach the pedals.