Helpful Safety Tips and Child Safety Month Protection Month

Child Safety and Protection Month, observed annually in November, provides us with a valuable opportunity to focus on the safety and well-being of the children closest to us. This observance serves as a reminder to raise awareness about child safety and the importance of following legal safety guidelines in place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various tips that help ensure the safety of children in various different settings.

The Importance of Child Safety Laws

Child safety laws and regulations are the cornerstone of child protection. These laws set out the rights and responsibilities of parents, caregivers, and institutions, and they establish a framework that ensures children's well-being. 

For example, the CDC found that motor vehicle crashes account for more deaths among children ages 5-19, than any other cause of unintentional injury. In response, different states have instituted a child safety restraint law to target and prevent needless additional risk when children are within vehicles. Nebraska’s child safety restraint law is an example of where the use of child passenger restraint systems and occupant protection systems is mandated by the Department of Transportation. Here’s what Nebraska’s child safety restraint law entails:

• All children under the age of eight are required to be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat that meets federal safety standards.
• Children must ride in a rear-facing position until they reach the age of two or until they exceed the weight or height limits specified by the car seat's manufacturer.
• Children between the ages of eight and eighteen must use a safety belt or child safety seat (booster seat) when traveling in a vehicle.
• When transporting children, childcare providers are obligated to ensure they are securely fastened in an appropriate federally-approved car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
• Children under the age of eighteen are not allowed to ride in the cargo areas of vehicles.
• Violation of these regulations will result in a $25 fine, in addition to court costs, and one point will be added to the driver's record.

An Omaha car accident lawyer can help navigate your legal options and compliance with Nebraska law in the event of an accident. They can also help navigate complicated legal circumstances involving your compliance with Nebraska’s child safety laws and how that could affect your accident case.

Child Car Safety Resources

Another way that parents can go above and beyond simply complying with state laws and regulations is by getting a Child Passenger Safety Certification. Aftering completing the instructional courses, individuals can give parents one-on-one personalized instruction on how to properly use and install a child safety seat, as well as information on seat belt guidelines, child restraints, and booster seat recommendations.

The state of Nebraska also provides a Safe Kids Nebraska Car Seat Training Course that meets DHHS car seat/child passenger safety training contract requirements associated with foster care and other entities who transport children on behalf of DHHS. This can be a great supplement to informing yourself of Nebraska’s car seat restraint laws, or getting a national Child Passenger Safety Certification. 

For those unsure of their own car seat’s functionality or compliance with Nebraska law, you can get your car seats checked and access other local car seat resources using Safety Information for Parents & Caregivers.