Did you know that 73% of child safety seats and boosters are not installed properly? Experts tell GeoParent the top mistakes parents make and how to fix them to decrease the chances of your child being injured in a car accident.

By Tracy B. McGinnis

Kim Lybrand and her husband were always worried about whether they had their child’s car seat installed properly. After struggling with adjusting the straps and not getting anywhere with the directions their seat came with, a friend recommended they take their seat over to a police station or fire house where they could make sure it was installed properly.

“I made an appointment at the police station and an officer took me out to the car and explained everything she was doing and talked to me about how to be safe with a child in the car,” said Lybrand.

Lybrand and her family are not alone, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, 73% of child safety seats and booster seats are used improperly.

THE TOP MISTAKES
Brooks Watson, co-founder of Safety Squad, finds misuse rates of car seats well over 90% and encourages parents to seek out help from certified passenger safety technicians. “Most parents don’t achieve adequate seat tightness,” explains Watson. “Then they don’t secure their children in correctly in the harness.”

Corporal Eric Wynn of the Colorado Child Passenger Safety (CPS) team says one common mistake parents make includes incorrectly positioning the shoulder and lap portion of the child safety seat. “The lap portion needs to be put across the child’s pelvis not their stomach,” says Wynn. “And the shoulder portion should be across the shoulder, unlike the common mistake of putting the shoulder portion behind the child safety seat.”

MAKING THE SWITCH: FORWARD FACING AND BOOSTER SEATS
Dr. Laura Jana is a pediatrician and leading national expert on child safety and development and says it’s what parents aren’t doing that’s endangering the safety of young passengers. “Parents don’t read their car and car seat manuals or visit manufacturers web sites for instructions. Companies like Britax provide installation videos online.” Jana also says parents don’t take the time to research what to look for when shopping for a car seat.

When it comes to moving out of a five-point harness or switching to a forward facing seat Jana says parents are making the move too soon. The current standard recommendation is to keep your infant rear facing in his car seat until he weighs 20 pounds AND has reached one year of age. Jana says parents should consider keeping their child rear facing longer. “There are seats on the market that allow rear facing up to 35 pounds and keep children in a 5-point harness all the way up to 80 pounds once they are forward facing,” explains Jana. “Parents should use these features as long as possible within the limits of the seat.”

CAR SEAT SAFETY TIPS
Jennifer Huebner, manager of AAA National Traffic Safety Programs and a certified child passenger safety instructor mentor and a leading expert on child safety in the U.S. says her top 3 most common mistakes regarding car seats include: not installing the seat tight enough, harness straps that are too loose or threaded incorrectly and having a harness clip that is not at the correct level.

Huebner offers these quick tips for safety:

• All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat out of harm from front air bags.
• Harness straps should not be twisted or threaded through the incorrect slots. You should not be able to pinch any slack at the child’s shoulders, but also should not be too tight indenting into the child’s skin.
• Never place a rear-facing seat where a frontal air bag is present.
• Choose the correct seat for your child’s age, weight, height and physical tolerance.
• Install the seat at the proper direction and angle and make sure it does not move more than 1 inch in any direction when testing it at the belt path.
• Harnesses should be adjusted at the proper location – at or below the shoulders for rear facing and at or above the shoulders for forward facing.
• The harnesses should be snug and have the retainer clip at armpit level across the child’s sternum. Any lower and it may cause abdominal injury or allow the harnesses to slip off the child’s shoulders, any higher and it can possibly cause neck injury or choking.
• A child should ride rear-facing until they are older than 1 year and reach the upper weight limits of their rear-facing convertible seat.
• Children can ride forward facing once they have outgrown their rear facing convertible. They should remain in harnesses until they reach the upper weight limits and then move to a booster seat.
• Children should use a booster seat until the adult lap/shoulder belt fits them properly.
• Buckle up on every trip!

Visit some of these sites for additional tips and information:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
American Academy of Pediatrics – Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2008

Read More:

• Top 10 car seat safety tips
• Are you using your infant car seat correctly?
• One minute car seat checklist

The Fourth of July should be all about family, fun, and fireworks. But thanks to many potential hazards, the holiday can bring about plenty of big time boo-boos, too. Here’s how to keep your kids safe this Fourth—and all summer long.

By Sarah Wassner Flynn

As barbeques simmer and fireworks pop this Fourth of July, hospital emergency rooms around the country fill with victims of Independence Day injuries. In fact, the one-month window surrounding the Fourth is one of the busiest times for ER doctors and nurses. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to sidestep common summertime ailments and injuries. Here are some expert tips on making your Fourth spectacular and safe.

FIREWORKS SAFETY
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 9,200 people were treated in emergency rooms across the country due to accidents caused by fireworks devices in 2006. And children ages 10 to 14 are the most likely to suffer from fireworks-related injuries, usually involving burns to the hands and fingers, eyes, head, and face. “Every year, we see the same thing,” says Donna Bucciarelli, a trauma nurse with William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, and director of programs for Safety City, U.S.A . “Kids come in with severe burns, lacerations to the eyes, and worse. We don’t really think about their danger because they are so beautiful, but fireworks pack a lot of power.”

Experts recommend avoiding homegrown fireworks displays all together. But if you do decide to put on your own display, keep the pyrotechnics in the hands of the parents. Have kids watch from a safe distance, which is at least 20 feet away. Or better yet, just hit up a local fireworks show put on by professionals. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, the dangers far exceed the fun of it all,” says Bucciarelli.

SPARKLERS OF CONCERN
Sure, sparklers seem like a simple way to keep kids entertained on the fourth, but these sizzling sticks come with their own set of safety concerns. Bucciarelli recalls a small girl arriving to the ER with severe burns to her lower body one a recent Fourth of July. “She was wearing a skirt made of some sort of synthetic material, which just went up in flames as she was playing with a sparkler,” she says. “Little kids’ arms aren’t that long, and they tend to hold sparklers way too close to their bodies, resulting in burns.”

It’s no surprise, then, that sparklers (which can reach up to 2000 degrees) account for over one-third of injuries to children under five years old, according to the CPSC. “Sparklers don’t look very threatening, but still have the potential to burn a child,” says Sherri Hannan, a registered nurse and head of the Safe Kids Coalition at Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington. She says it’s key to keep sparklers away from children under five, and to supervise the older kids closely as they play. “They’re essentially playing with fire, so extreme caution should be taken any time sparklers are out,” advises Bucciarelli.

GRILL WISELY
Another hot topic around the fourth? Grill and campfire safety. “Anything with an open flame is an invite for potential burns, especially with kids,” says Bucciarelli. “They’re naturally curious, and once the cooking’s done and everyone’s busy eating, they tend to sneak over to the grill or campfire, which is when injuries can occur.” You can never be too vigilant about eyeing your little ones as they play outside. Britt Michaelian of Responsible Family Company recommends keeping your barbeque lid closed and kids at least five feet away at all times. “And if you’re lighting a campfire, keep the flame small, and make sure to have plenty of water and a shovel on hand in case the fire gets out of control,” says Michaelian.

WATER WATCH
As families descend upon beaches and pools around the fourth, ERs become saturated with victims of water-related injuries. “We see many, many drownings around the fourth,” says Bucciarelli. “There’s just so much going on that it’s easy to lose sight of the kids.” To prevent a potential scary situation, Hannan suggests designating an adult as a “child watcher” whose sole duty is to observe kids around water. “This way, everyone doesn’t assume that someone else is doing it,” she says. And this may be a given, but be sure to strap on the lifejackets while on the open water—all children seven and under are required by law to wear US Life Guard approved life jackets when riding in boats.

To be properly prepared for any potentially scary summertime situations, prepare a first aid kit and toss it into your beach bag or backpack. And as with any time you’re having some family fun in the sun, drink plenty of fluids on a regular basis and frequently slather on that SPF. Then, just focus on having a fabulous fourth!

Read More:

• Summer safety tips
• The dangers of dry drowning
• Avoid food safety mistakes
• Secrets from the swimming teacher

Walk down the street, and you’ll see children riding their bicycles while chatting on cell phones. Every kid in the mall has one and stores cater to kids by offering cool phone accessories like charms, covers, and carrying cases. They certainly provide parents with the peace of mind that they can be in contact in case of an emergency, but are they forcing our children to grow up too soon?

GeoParent talked with Bob Lotter, CEO of Radar, My Mobile Watchdog, about the dangers of cell phone use among children.

By Mary Fetzer

GeoParent: It seems that every kid in America has a cell phone…
Bob Lotter: Parents are giving phones to their children at younger and younger ages. It is estimated that 75% of children ages 13 to 17 have cell phones, with a growing trend toward younger children.

GP: Why should a child carry a cell phone?
Mr. Lotter: The most important reason is safety. With a cell phone, children can be in direct contact with parents no matter where they are. In the event of emergencies, parents can reach out to their children and locate them for further actions. Children can contact police, fire, and other safety services and should be trained to do so.

There are developmental reasons for children having phones. Cell phones are the “new computer,” and a child who doesn’t know how to use them may fall technically or socially behind. When used correctly, cell phones provide social and intellectual value.

GP: Those are the benefits, but what are the dangers?
Mr. Lotter: Phones are a greater threat to a child’s safety than a computer. Cell phones are omnipresent with the child and most of the time out of eye and ear range of their parents, so cell phone usage is unmonitored.

Until Radar, there has been no solution to monitor cell phone usage, text messages, and surfing the net. Predators know this, thus we have epidemic-scale issues with cell phones becoming a favored communication method for child porn, sexting (children taking sexual pictures of themselves and others texting them), cyber bullying, and adult content. Predators know that the anonymity of the Internet is easily transferred to unmonitored phones and are moving from online communication to text messaging to further their goals.

GP: What is Radar?
Mr. Lotter: Radar, My Mobile Watchdog, is a service that protects children from cyber bullying, predators, adult content, and other unsafe activities on their cell phone. Radar is designed for children ages 7 to 17.

GP: How big of a threat are the dangers?
Mr. Lotter: Radar conducts pilot programs and safety studies. The last five predators caught with Radar were not listed on the Sex Offender Register, and all came prepared and appeared well-practiced.

While not all communication results in physical contact, much results in sex talk and inappropriate pictures being exchanged. Children are often tricked into believing they are texting with another child and let their guard down.

The psychological dangers to children can be as great as actual attempts to molest them. Child suicides resulting from cyber bullying are on the rise. Most children have good, diligent parents, but none are impervious to these dangers, and parents need to be proactive.

GP: Can Radar help with the growing bullying epidemic among children?
Mr. Lotter: Absolutely. Many times when kids are confronted for bullying another child, they will not own up to it. Even their parents may find the allegations unbelievable. Armed with a record from Radar, one can offer “evidence” directly to the principle, law enforcement, or the parent for immediate action. Since the phone is now the primary communication channel for children, Radar is an important tool in the detection and prevention of cyber bullying.

GP: How does Radar help parents?
Mr. Lotter: Before something bad happens to a child via the cell phone, there is typically a series of communications. Parents who are able to intercept potentially harmful influences are better prepared to stop the progress of such activities before they become dangerous. RADAR IS NOT SPYWARE. The child is aware that his or her phone is being monitored. The parent has the ability to provide a certain level of privacy by “white listing” friends and family. This allows the child to have private conversations while still alerting and forwarding communications from strangers and contacts not on the approved list. All communications are stored for later retrieval, if needed.

Monitoring is superior to blocking and spying. Children who discover they’re being spied on feel betrayed and may adopt a covert method of continuing their activity. Similarly, children find ways around blocking technologies until parents are completely unaware of any activity. Radar is a tool in the parents arsenal to improve communication and understanding with their child while providing increased protection against harmful outside influences.

GP: Isn’t it illegal to monitor phone conversations?
Mr. Lotter: There are wire tapping laws that prevent the unknown listening and taping of voice communications. Since children are aware their phones are being monitored, Radar is not in violation of the law. Radar makes copies of all pictures, written text, and email messages and forwards them to the parent in real time. Call records are stamped with the date, time, phone number, and duration.

GP: Kids seem more technologically advanced than their parents. Won’t they figure out a way around the Radar – like communicating in text code that only they understand?
Mr. Lotter: This is exactly what children do, but their codes are deciphered regularly by Radar. Radar helps parents understand what the text message means. Eventually parents become versed enough that they can text in the same language.

GP: Parents are so busy and don’t have time to learn sophisticated new technology. Is Radar user friendly?
Mr. Lotter: Radar was designed for Moms. It requires no complicated installation or setup and is available from Mom’s phone and any computer with Internet access. Radar can preconfigure phones to filter the Internet and limit use of the camera. Moms can use Radar to send calendar items and reminders to their children’s phone, and to keep track of homework assignments and other activities.

Radar is available online. Visit www.mymobilewatchdog.com for more information.

Read More:

• How to protect kids from cyber-bullying
• Addicted to phones?
• Help teens get the sleep they need

In between getting the kids ready for school and cooking breakfast, you usually don’t have much time to spend getting yourself ready. You can either walk out of the house makeup-free (because, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that) or you can apply some quick fixes to your face. Here are some make-up tips to get you looking great and out the door in record time.

By Brie Gatchalian

Think five minutes is not enough? Think again – a touchup here and there goes a long way. Start off with a moisturizer with SPF (this will help your makeup last longer). Note: It’s okay to forego eye shadow and contouring for a typical work day – this should eliminate half of your makeup routine.

Then, all you have to do is identify your main problem area to complete your look:

Get Glowing
After you apply your base (with either foundation or powder), give your skin a touch of sun using the Bare Escentuals’ Full Coverage Kabuki Brush ($28) and Bare Minerals Faux Tan All-Over Face Color ($28, both at Bareescentuals.com). Spread on your cheeks and forehead for a natural all-over glow. Complete the look with some mascara and a lip gloss that’s a shade darker than your lips. The subtle changes will give you the color that you need, but won’t overpower your natural beauty.

Adult Acne
Those pesky bumps are not always reserved for puberty-stricken teens. You don’t need a full-on makeover to hide your unfortunate skincare situation. This Realness of Concealness collection from Benefit Cosmetics ($30 at Benefitcosmetics.com) will do the trick. You won’t have to dig in your cosmetics case to find the pack of these mini concealers and enhancers to even out your skin – the one-stop packaging will keep you organized. After concealing your problem areas, apply a dark liner above your lashes to draw attention to your eyes. Finish off with a tinted lip gloss.

Wrinkles
Aging is inevitable. Start with PerriconeMD’s Ceramic Eye Smoother ($50 at Sephora.com). This lightweight eye serum fills wrinkles and smoothes fine lines. After application of this anti-ager, spread your regular foundation or powder across your face, continue with a little bronzer for a youthful glow. Complete the look with a hint of lip color – a sheer lip tint will do the trick.

Getting you and your kids dressed in a reasonable amount of time can seem like an impossible feat some mornings. Check out these articles to help get you out the door – and looking great – in no time!

• 12 quick fashion tips for working moms
• 15 ways to keep an upscale image in a downturned economy
• 8 quick fashion tips for new moms
• One minute wake-ups