Child safety seats are required by law in every state because they provide the best protection for infants and young children. Injury Prevention Resources houses child safety seat inspection stations in the Riverton and Lander offices. A certified child passenger safety technician is available to inspect your child safety seat, answer questions, and show you how to correctly install and use the seat. This service is provided free to the public.
Wyoming Child Safety Restraint Act (see W.S. 31-5-1301 through 31-5-1305)
Wyoming law requires each child who is a passenger in a vehicle and who has not yet reached his/her ninth (9th) birthday to be properly secured in a child safety restraint system in the back seat of the vehicle.
National Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children remain rear-facing to age 2 or until they have outgrown their child restraint by height or weight.
All children under 13 years of age should be properly restrained in the back seat of the vehicle.
Types of Child Safety Seats
There are three basic types of child safety seats: Infant, Convertible or Forward Facing, and Booster.
Infant
Infant only child safety seats are often the first type of seat a caregiver will use for their child. Infant only child safety seats provide lower height and weight allowances and may be the most appropriate child safety seat for your infant. Children should ride in a rear-facing infant seat until they reach the weight or height limits allowed by the manufacturer.
Convertible and Forward Facing
Convertible child safety seats may be used once a child has outgrown the infant only child safety seat based on height or weight. Convertible seats allow caregivers to prolong the rear-facing position as they are capable of being placed rear-facing and forward-facing. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limits set by the manufacturer. Children can then be placed in a forward-facing position.
Booster
Booster seats are the final step before your child can use the vehicle seat belt alone. Booster seats come in a variety of styles and are capable of growing with your child. Children should remain in a booster seat using a five-point harness system to the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer before using the vehicle seat belt with the booster.
Vehicle Seat Belts
Once your child has outgrown all height or weight limits of the booster seat, the child will be ready to use the vehicle seat belt alone. Children should sit straight against the back of the vehicle seat with knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat. The vehicle’s shoulder belt should fit snug across the chest and the lap belt snug and low over the upper thighs.
Fit Guidelines
One of the most important guidelines to follow when considering what child restraint to use for your child, is the child restraint manufacturer guidelines. These guidelines indicate the child`s minimum and maximum height and weight combinations appropriate for that seat. Each child restraint differs in these guidelines (which are found on the labels and in the owner`s manual). For more information, please visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at http://www.nhtsa.gov and search "Child Safety".
Child Safety Seat Distribution Program
Injury Prevention Resources offers a Child Safety Seat Distribution Program to low income families in Fremont County who cannot afford to purchase an appropriate child safety seat on their own. Each year, we provide approximately 100 child safety seats to children from low income families. Funding for our Distribution Program comes primarily from CSBG grants and private donations.
Eligibility Requirements
Primary caregiver is a Title XIX recipient
and/or
Primary caregiver meets income guidelines
Participants are required to:
* Provide proof of eligibility
* Watch an instructional video
* Learn how to properly install the child safety seat
* Learn how to properly secure the child in the restraint
There is a $10 fee per child safety seat which must be provided at the time of installation.
Within 30 days of receiving your new car seat, we ask that you:
* Read the vehicle owner’s manual
* Read the car seat manual
* Attend a car seat check-up with your child
If you would like more information about this program or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 307-856-2821.
