While flying is still the safest way to travel long distances,
preventable injuries can happen. The people at highest risk of
injury and, in rare cases, even death are those who are not buckled
up correctly.
"Some parents unknowingly put their children at risk when
flying with them on their laps," said Karen Brock, MPH,
director of Connecticut SAFE KIDS-a program of Connecticut
Children's Medical Center that is sponsored by the Elks of
Connecticut. "All children 40 pounds and under should be in
child safety seats on airplanes. Older children and adults should be
in safety belts."
Correctly using a child safety seat on an airplane protects a
child during turbulence and in some emergency situations. In
addition to increasing safety during the flight, traveling with your
child's safety seat can help ensure that your child is safe during
ground transportation once you reach your destination.
To reduce the risk of injury, Connecticut SAFE KIDS offers
helpful safety tips to help make traveling less stressful for
parents and keep children safe on airplanes.
Choose a child safety seat that is appropriate for the child's
size and age:
- Children should ride facing the rear of the aircraft until
they are at least 12 months old and weigh at least 20 pounds.
- Rear-facing infant seats generally fit best on airplanes, but
rear-facing convertibles also can be used. Children over age 1
who weigh 20 to 40 pounds can ride facing the front of the
aircraft.
- Children who weigh more than 40 pounds should be snugly
secured by aircraft safety belts. While booster seats and some
harness vests enhance safety in automobiles, they are banned
from use during aircraft taxi, take-off and landing.
Determine whether your current child safety seat can be used
on an airplane:
- Look for a label that says "This Restraint is Certified
for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft."
Belt-positioning booster seats, backless child restraint systems
and certain harnesses cannot be used.
They will be labeled with the statement "This Restraint is
Not Certified for Use in Aircraft." Child safety seats that are
wider than 16 inches will not fit on airplane seats. Most others
will fit on the seat, though some may be challenging to install with
airplane safety belts.
Buy a ticket for your child, and inform the reservations or
travel agent if you will be traveling with a young child and a child
safety seat:
- Many airlines offer discounted tickets for children under 24
months old who will be traveling in child safety seats. Some
airlines also offer discounted child fares for children between
ages 2 and 4.
- Ask whether the specific airline has policies for transporting
children.
- If possible, avoid the busiest days and times to fly so you
and your child will have adequate space.
- If you select your own airplane seats, be sure to choose
adjacent seats for yourself and your child.
- The child safety seat must be installed in a window seat, so
other passengers are not blocked from exiting the row.
- Children cannot ride in emergency exit rows.
- If you need to change planes to make a connecting flight, most
airlines can help you transport your child, luggage and safety
seat if arranged in advance.
To complete your trip, here are few more important travel
tips:
- Ensure that all adult and child passengers are correctly
restrained by safety belts and child safety seats while
traveling to and from the airport, no matter how short the trip.
- All children ages 12 and under should ride properly restrained
in a back seat.
- Make sure that the vehicle you will be riding in when you
reach your destination has an adequate number of safe seating
positions and safety belts.
- Even if you cannot use a booster seat during air travel, bring
it with you for use in motor vehicles. Children over 40 pounds
should be correctly secured in belt-positioning boosters or
other appropriate child restraints until the adult lap and
shoulder belts fit correctly (around age 8).
- Any child safety seat must be installed and used according to
the manufacturer instructions.
BACK
| CT SAFE KIDS
