Toddler In Car Seat Falls Out Of Moving Car. How To Prevent This From Happening To You.

The dashcam video is shocking. A toddler strapped into a car seat falls out of a moving vehicle and onto a busy street in Minnesota.

Miraculously, the child was safe. The Mankato Department of Public Safety said in a press release that the 2-year-old girl was not injured.

While the incident continues to be investigated for charges of child endangerment by the authorities, three things are known:

1. Car seats are remarkably durable and safe.

2. Parents should make sure their child’s car seats are securely and properly fastened into the car.

3. Make sure the car door is shut and locked.

"National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that three out of five car seats are not properly installed,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach Manager at Cook Children’s. “It appears this little girl was properly harnessed into the car seat and that’s why she’s alive and well. However, another crucial step was not taken, making sure the car seat was securely fastened to the back seat of the car.”

Texas law states that “all children younger than 8 years old, unless taller than 4’9”, are required to be in the appropriate child safety seat system, including properly secured in the car, wherever they ride in a passenger vehicle. The safety seat MUST be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety states on its website that best safety practice is: “if the child is not yet 4’9”, they are better protected if they continue to use the appropriate child safety seat system until they can fit properly in the adult safety belt.”

“We talk a lot about the safety of a child in a car seat, but what happened in Minnesota is a reminder for all parents that there are two important steps: First, install the car seat in the back seat of the car and two, harness the child into the car seat,” Walraven said.

The best way to make sure your child is secure is to have a certified child passenger safety technician teach you how to install the car seat, and how to fit the child in the seat. Cook Children’s offers free car seat checkups to ensure your seat is properly installed. Call 682-885-2634 for more information.

More Information:

• Vehicle/Car Safety
• Choosing The Right Car Seat
• Ultimate Car Seat Guide
• Car seat safety (Newborn to 2 years old)