[0:00] Hi, I'm officer Ashley Kowarsh [0:02] and I'm detective Lynn Lawrence. [0:04] We are with Woodbury Public Safety, [0:05] And today we are going to be talking to [0:07] you about child passenger seat safety. [0:14] Lynn and I are child passenger safety technicians, [0:17] meaning we have each completed additional [0:18] training and continuing education [0:20] credits around car seats [0:22] and how to keep children safe in motor vehicles. [0:24] The proper use of child restraints [0:26] is one of the simplest and most effective methods [0:28] to reducing injury and or death of children [0:30] in the event of a motor vehicle crash. [0:32] Woodbury Police offers car seat checks [0:34] where residents can make an appointment [0:36] for their installed car seat, to be checked by one of us. [0:38] Each car seat tends to be a little different, [0:40] so we recommend residents view their car seat manual, [0:43] which comes with the seat, or can be found [0:44] on the manufacturer's website and their vehicle manual. [0:47] A few common errors we see with car seats are. [0:50] Latch anchors have weight limits, [0:51] and we commonly see caretakers using latch [0:53] when the child has exceeded the weight limit. [0:56] The child seat should be install [0:59] Not all vehicles allow a latch install on all seats. [1:02] A common mistake is borrowing anchors [1:04] from outboard seats while in the middle seat. [1:06] Some vehicles do allow this, but you need to read the vehicle [1:09] and seat manuals before installing that way. [1:12] Another common error we see involves the crotch strap. [1:15] Many times, [1:15] the caretaker will pull the crotch strap [1:17] through a different opening in the fabric of the seat, [1:20] instead of actually moving the anchor [1:22] to provide more room for the child. [1:24] Additionally, twisted and loose harnesses are another common [1:27] problem we see. [1:28] Ensure that you're following the shoulder [1:30] strap rule [1:31] whether the seat is forward or rear facing, [1:33] and that the straps are not twisted. [1:35] The harness should also be tight enough [1:36] so that you can not pinch any extra slack at the shoulders. [1:40] Properly installed car seats are one of the most [1:42] effective ways to keep our youngest residents [1:44] safe as they ride in motor vehicles. [1:46] Please help us keep our community safe [1:47] by following Minnesota's car seat laws, [1:49] properly installing your car seat, [1:51] and getting your car seat checked. If you have [1:53] any concerns, it might not be installed correctly.