According to the CDC, motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.
Safe Kids Mississippi - a coalition led by Batson Children's Hospital - says car seats are among the most important products parents use to safeguard their children. Unfortunately, this safety device can have defects, resulting in a recall.
Annaliese Johnson of Safe Kids says that's why product registration cards are so important. She says studies show only 42 percent of parents actually complete and send them in.
"It really is for the safety of your child. Taking two minutes to fill it out, just stick it in your mailbox. You don't even have to put a stamp on it. It already has postage paid for, and if that's too difficult for you, you can actually register your car seats online," says Johnson.
Charis Brooks is a parent of two. She says when her children were born, she didn't hesitate to register the car seats.
"I knew I had to put my child in the car seat going home, so i filled out the cards in the hospital. When I got home, I just mailed them off," Brooks says.
Johnson of Safe Kids says recalled products have a varying degree of risks to children. She says safercar.gov is an excellent resource for parents to learn about child passenger safety.
"You can check to see if your child is in the appropriate seat for their age, height, and weight. It'll tell you which type of seat your child should be in, as well as registering your car seat," says Johnson.
Safe Kids also implements statewide car-seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.
