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How to schedule a car seat check

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Properly installed child safety seats can prevent serious injuries and death, yet most child safety seats are improperly installed. Boston EMS can help.

Step
1

Choose the right seat

Stage one: Birth – 1 year

Used from birth to at least 1 year of age or 20 pounds.

  • Rear-facing
  • Placed in the back seat
Stage two: 1 year – 3 years old

Used until your child has reached the upper limit of the height and weight requirements of this seat.

  • Rear-facing
  • Placed in the back seat
 Stage three: 4 years – 7 years old

  Used with proper harness until your child has reached the upper limit of the height and weight requirements of this seat

  • Front-facing   
  • Placed in back seat
Stage Four: 8 years old and up

Massachusetts requires that all children under 8 years old OR 57 inches (4 foot, 9 inches) tall ride in a federally approved booster seat with the seat belt properly fastened.

  • All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat
Step
2

Call Boston EMS

Boston EMS offers child safety seat installations and checks. We will ensure that you picked the appropriate seat for your child and help to properly install it. We will also make sure your child is buckled into the seat correctly and show you how to do that.

Please call us at 617-343-6891 to make your child safety seat appointment.

Keep in mind

The Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety law was amended in July of 2008 to include booster seat requirements. The law says that:

  • Children must be in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured until they are 8 years old OR over 57” (4’9”) tall.
  • Children ages 8-13 must wear a properly fastened safety belt.
  • A police officer can stop your vehicle if a child age 13 or under is not properly restrained.
Did you know?

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in the United States for children 2-12 years of age. Almost 90 percent of car seats are not installed correctly.

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