Q:
What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder
belt,
but the child is
so
small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A:
Move the child toward the center
of
the vehicle,
but be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the
child’s shoulder,
so
that in a crash the child’s upper
body would have the restraint that belts provide.
If
the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position,
see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults
on
page 1-24.
If
the child is
so
small that the shoulder belt is still
very close
to
the child’s face or neck, you might
want to place the child in the center seat position,
the one that has only a lap belt.
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can’t properly spread the impact
forces.
In
a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured.
A
belt
must be used by only one person at
a
time.
1-28
