Show Make your vehicle I r" i a better place for precious cargo s Vy m l - I m M A R C I A B Y m LJ 5 : $jt I 'V' f rZ 1 1 f '' "' RUFF i - £' V '' ' £' ‘ i ’V “ i v J ''pi’ rstjeumhasrse " '"V-ARS CAN BE HAZARDOUS for kids not only because Of crashes but also because of problems with the very safety systems designed to protect them But the tragedy of children being injured or killed when aiibags inflate or from improperly installed child safety seats has led to an intense of those safety features Here’s the latest on keeping your kids safe on the roa± Chili mfttj itmU Every parent knows that threading the seat belt through the child safety seat is an awkward frustrating task Ini feet a majority of child safety seats are installed incorrectly Now a new system known as LATCH — which stands for Lower Anchors and Tether for Children—will make the job much simpler ' V Pint to hefe you install the safety seat correctly a metal rod will be buried at the bade of the bottom cushion in the rear seat Just snap the extensions at the back of the safety seat ooto the rod's anchors push the seat iq and bingo the seat is se-cured (Older seats may not have the nec-essary extensions) The metal rod will be mstaDed in same 2001 models and win be mandatptyty September 20QZ Second to stabilize the seat a perms- nent anchor for the tether (or strap) that I I to caution thin kids should never ride mi the frootseaL Another threat however mty come from rev side aiibags Whifc side airbags protect aduhs in sidoonpact crashes kids leaning against the door could be hut if the side aiibag deploys Experts recommend that you deactivate therearsideaiibagsifyouhsvechildren unless the manufacturer stys they are safe Bootr stats Children often go from slides through the lop of the safety seat will be installed in aQ 2001 passenger ve- - hkles except convertibles Depentfeig on thevefaide the anchor will be on theseat back parcel shelf floor or even the ceftr ing Just snap fee tether onto the anchcx and the lop of the seat is hdd in place re-during feeKkeBhood of head injuries AMegs The deaths of children from powerful front aiibags led safety experts Children should use booster seats until they are big enoui to sit wife their backs stniht and their knees bent over the edge of the sd— whichis generally when feey are about 4 feet 9 and 80 pounds One problem for parents has been the limited selection of comfortable boost-er seats available That shoukl be chang- - 'i'i'ridingindiikisafetyaeatstousingadultingHoweverbe'sureanyboosterseat i J seat belts But safety experts say feat's not a good idea Seat bdts actually pose because they to 4-- to don’t fit property In a collision fee fop portion can ride up on the abdomen Of a child causing internal injuries while die shoulder strap increases the iisk of a headinjurfeThe only thfog more is not using the belt at ill TheseMin betirc in boorter aeahk The boomer seat does xtaefatothe Vehicle it dm child q the seat belt fits property: youbuyhasafobdstating:Thischild restraint system conforms to all applic-aris- k able Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 'Standards’' T' ‘s y IK dam-gerou- swapped la ptaaatptaa — aastnrW la wfiali tha nwngfe aisaaiiiilnM ' s V t twWiaw n—a wmpfawrfL : foy Mm UECZl' yflr i h sni |