Car Seats

Did you know?

• Most car crashes happen close to home during short trips in the car.
• Your child’s risk of sever injury or death due to a car crash more then doubles if he/she is not properly restrained for his/her age.
• An infant (up to one year of age) should ride in a safety seat, facing the rear of the car.
• Seat belts aren’t made to fit children under eight years old. For car seat graduates, a booster seat is necessary to avoid injury.

You are eligible to receive and learn how to use a FREE CAR SEAT if:

1. You are eligible for Medicaid or are currently on Medicaid.
2. A resident of Reynolds County & on the WIC Program
3. You meet income guidelines. (Guidelines change every year on April 1st) See table below:

If you meet these requirements, and have not received a car seat for the same child prior, please call Reynolds County Health Center @ 573-648-2498 ext. 11 to speak to someone today.

Child Restraints

1. LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD – Missouri Law requires children less than four years old, regardless of weight, use an appropriate child passenger restraint system.
2. LESS THEN 40 POUNDS – Missouri Law requires children weighing less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, to be secure in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for the child.
3. LESS THAN 8 YEARS OLD/80 POUNDS OR UNDER 4’9” – Children (ages 4-7) who weigh at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds, and are less then 4’9” tall, must be secure in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child.

It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under the age of 16 are buckled up safely. Those 16 and over are responsible for themselves.

Violators may be subject to a fine and court costs for not properly using seat belts.

• Never leave your child in the car, even with the windows down. When the outside temperature is 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and your window is down one and a half inches, the temperature inside your car can still reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes and approximately 140 degrees in 40 minutes.
• If your child gets locked inside the car, dial 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Make sure you check the temperature of the car seat surface and safety belt buckles before buckling your children in the car.
• Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using windshield shades in front and back windows.
• Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Keep the doors and trunk of your car locked when parked in the driveway or near the home. This will prevent children from opening the doors and locking themselves inside the car.
• Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
• Put car keys out of children’s reach and sight.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks. Teach children how to disable the driver’s door locks if they unintentionally become entrapped in a motor vehicle.
• Contact your automobile dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.