Health beat: Child passenger safety

In 2012, more than 1,100 children 14 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 176,000 were injured. But parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference.

Reducing their risk

Whenever on the road, make sure child passengers are buckled in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats or seat belts. The safest place for children of any age to ride is properly restrained in the back seat. Data show that:

* In 2011, restraint use saved the lives of 263 children ages 4 and younger. Car seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 to 4.

* Booster seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45 percent for children ages 4 to 8.

All children ages 12 and younger should ride in the back seat. Air bags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat or in front of an air bag.

Know the stages

Parents and caregivers can:

Make sure children are properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height and weight.

* Birth to 2 -- Rear-facing car seat. For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat's owner's manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

* Age 2 to at least age 5 -- Forward-facing car seat. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat, until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat's owner's manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits.

* Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly -- Booster seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (by reaching the upper height or weight limit of their seat), they should be buckled in a belt-positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Remember to keep children properly buckled in the back seat for the best possible protection.

* Once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat -- Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). The recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 57 inches tall. For the best possible protection keep children properly buckled in the back seat.

* Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat's owner's manual or get help installing them from a certified child passenger safety technician.

Health Beat is a weekly spotlight on a wide range of health issues. The information contained here was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. View the CDC features online at cdc.gov/features.