Car Seat Safety: Many Illinois Kids Not Buckled In Correctly

(Undated) -- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U-S, but it takes more than clicking the seat belt to keep them safe. According to the C-D-C, the appropriate car seat or booster seat can reduce injuries by more than half, but Jamie Sammis with Children’s Hospital of Illinois says about 80 percent are not installed properly. Sammis says to prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident, a child should ride in the correct seat for their weight and height, and should stay in a rear-facing seat until they outgrow it. It's National Child Passenger Safety Week, and free car-seat checks are being offered around Illinois. Many fire or health departments and hospitals also offer free car-seat inspections on a monthly basis.