UC San Diego Demonstrates Seat Belt Safety, April 6, 2011

“All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer” – American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), published in Pediatrics, April 2011

UC San Diego Health System particpated in a media event following the release of new policy on child passenger safety by the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the event, Alison Wolf, UC San Diego Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and certified child passenger safety technician, demonstrated the correct back seat, rear-facing position for newborns and toddlers. She showed attendees how to properly position a toddler who has outgrown his seat, or a child under 4 ft. 9 inches, and between 8 and 12 years of age, in the back seat in a forward-facing belt-positioning booster seat.

Alison Wolf, NP, demos seating positions.

Dr. Jeanne Lee, UC San Diego trauma surgeon and assistant clinical professor, also demonstrated the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology seat belt recommendations for pregnant women. This included instruction on how to buckle the lap belt low on the hip bones, below the belly with the shoulder belt off to the side of the belly and across the center of the chest.

Dr. Lee and Alison reminded all drivers and passengers that lap and shoulder belts save lives and should be worn at all times when driving or riding in a vehicle. Shoulder belts should be adjusted so that they cross the middle of the chest and are away from the neck. Lap belts should lie across the hips and below the stomach.