MG International

Britax

Side Impact Protection and Children

An article titled Side Impact Crashes: Physics 101 was published in the March Extranotes and the April CPS Express. This discussed understanding injury, managing energy and minimizing risk. With this article I would like to identify testing methods relative to both motor vehicles and child restraint systems (CRS).

Child restraints are manufactured in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213. FMVSS 213 includes testing of child restraints in a frontal impact. Currently, there are no standards or guidelines in the United States for child restraints that include side impact crashes.

While there are no regulatory standards or guidelines for testing child restraints in side impact, the following test methods are in place for vehicles: (a) FMVSS 214 – Side Impact Protection (regulatory requirement), (c) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) (not a regulatory requirement) and (d) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Lateral Test (not a regulatory requirement).

Vehicle manufacturers offer equipment such as side curtain airbags in vehicles to protect the occupant usually starting with the 5th percentile female weighing 105 lbs. Typically it is acceptable to place a CRS next to a side curtain airbag (unless directed otherwise by the vehicle or CRS manufacturer) because a child properly secured in a properly installed CRS would have little to no interaction with a side curtain airbag that is deployed. We as adults put our selves at greater risk when we sleep and lean on side curtain airbags (in the event of deployment of course).

Besides Australia and New Zealand, there are no regulatory requirements concerning the crash protection of restrained children in lateral collisions. Test procedures for consumer information include (a) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Method, (b) Technical University Berlin – Side Impact Procedure of Child Restraint Systems( TUB – SIPCRS) Method, (c) Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) Fixed Door Method, (d) Australian Standard AS/NZS, (e) Takata Sled-on-Sled Method and (f) Britax Child Safety Inc. (BCSI) internal standard.

Keep your eyes open for the next Side Impact Protection and Children article that will provide additional information regarding performance requirements of some of the test methods noted.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at Stilton@BritaxUSA.com.

Submitted by Sarah Tilton, CPS Advocate, Britax Child Safety, Inc. (Charlotte, NC)

Britax

How do I know if my child fits appropriate in their Britax convertible?

Frequently questions are asked for clarification about the proper fit of a child in a Britax convertible. It has been expressed that confusion exists from our manuals varying in format and content.

Thank you for sharing your comments! Britax has clarified the fit requirements for our convertibles. This is not a change to our recommendation – we have simply put all the information on two consecutive pages and clearly stated when a child fits and when a child doesn’t fit.

The fit requirements have been gathered in the Safety Information section under Important Harness Adjustments, pages 6-7 of the user guides. Please note there are pictograms included in the user guides and the numerical values will change based on the platform capacities – the following is the verbiage only from a current U.S. 40 lb. maximum capacity convertible:

Rear-Facing
Weight 5 – 35 pounds (2.3 – 15.9 kg).
Use rear-facing only with children:
· who weigh between 5 and 35 lbs. (2.3 – 15.9 kg.) and
· the top of the child’s head is 1” (2.5 cm.) or more below the top of the child seat (Fig. A) and
· the harness straps are in the nearest slots at or below the child’s shoulders.
If the child cannot be secured within these requirements because the child exceeds height or weight requirements, review the forward-facing guidelines on page 7.
If the child cannot be secured within these requirements because the child is too small, selection of a different child seat (such as an infant carrier) may be required.

Do NOT use the child seat rear-facing if:
· the child is less than 5 lbs. (2.3 kg.) in weight or
· the child exceeds 35 lbs. (15.9 kg.) in weight or
· the top of the head is less than 1” (2.5 cm.) from the top of the child seat (Fig. A) or
· the harness straps are in a slot above the child’s shoulders.

Forward-Facing
Weight 20 pounds (and 1 year) – 40 pounds (9.1 – 18.1kg.)
Use forward-facing only with children:
· who are at least one year of age and
· who weigh between 20 and 40 lbs. (9.1 – 18.1 kg.) and
· 40” (101.6 cm) or less in height and
· the top of the child’s ears are below the top of the child seat and
· the harness straps are in the nearest slots at or above the child’s shoulders

Do NOT use the child seat forward-facing if:
· the child is less than one year of age or
· the child is less than 20 lbs. (9.1 kg.) in weight or
· the child exceeds 40 lbs. (18.1 kg.) in weight or
· the child exceeds 40” (101.6 cm) in height or
· the top of the ears are above the top of the child seat or
· the top harness slots fall below the child’s shoulders.

Please view the complete pages referenced of current user guides by visiting our website http://www.britaxusa.com/ and then selecting User Guides under Consumer Services.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at Stilton@BritaxUSA.com.

Sarah Tilton
CPS Advocate – Britax Child Safety, Inc.

Chicco

Chicco has Created the You & Me Front Carrier

As Safety Advocates know, babies are being left in their car seats too often and too long. Chicco has created the You & Me, the most advanced front carrier on the market. The You & Me is a great alternative to the car seat in the stroller or shopping cart.The ergonomically-tested Chicco You & Me infant carrier provides superior comfort and maximum support for caregiver and baby. Its features include:

Ventilated lumbar support and shoulder straps add comfort for caregiver
Lined with breathable fabric to keep baby cool with no labels touching baby's skin
Exclusive shoulder strap adjustment lets one choose how high or low to carry baby
2 Carrying positions: facing in until they can support their head, then facing out
Elastic fabric lines arm supports to keep baby from slumping in carrier
Height adjustment for baby is concealed in zippered, front access pocket
Adjusts for size of both baby and caregiver for superior comfort
Front of carrier opens fully to remove sleeping baby easily without disturbing their slumber
Reflective trim for evening adventures

Chicco will donate one You & Me front carrier to the first 30 Safe Kids Coalitions/Chapters that send in a 150-word essay on the benefits of front carriers versus car seats (when not traveling in motor vehicles). Retail value of the You & Me is $99.99. Send essays to Julie Robbins: julier@chiccousa.com, please cc keepingUsafe@insightbb.com. Include your name, phone number, and mailing address.Demo Seats still available: Coalitions/Chapters who have not requested a Chicco KeyFit 30 demo seat can still do so. The KeyFit 30 can be used from 4 to 30 lbs. Newborn insert, double bubble levels, spring-loaded adjustment foot, and convenient LATCH attachment are some of the features found on the KeyFit 30. One demo seat per organization is available. There is a $25 shipping fee or a shipper account number can be provided instead.

To request an application, email Julie Robbins: julier@chiccousa.com, please cc keepingUsafe@insightbb.com. Julie can also be reached at 317-867-3872.Julie Robbins, CPSTICommunity & Advocate Relations ManagerChicco

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association Hard at Work to Ensure Safe Toys for US Kids

The safety of toys imported to the United States from China has been much in the news since the middle of last year, with toy brands undertaking voluntary recalls of some one percent of toys sold in the US last year. With the safety of children as our industry’s number one priority, these recalls sounded an alarm to which the industry responded immediately. While the US toy industry has for years prided itself on establishing the benchmark toy safety standards for the world, these recalls indicated that a break had occurred in the testing and inspection systems established to confirm compliance with those standards.

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) resolved at once to identify and put into place a long-term solution to this issue that would allow parents to be reassured that toys sold in the US are safe. TIA knew it couldn’t accomplish this on its own and called upon partners from all across society to help them reach that solution. Here is what they have been doing, starting last August.

Working with the US Congress and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), pushing to develop uniform, comprehensive, federal legislation that would provide increased funding and authority to the CPSC, make testing for conformance with toy safety standards mandatory and require that a product certification program be created.Status: Legislation has now passed both houses and is scheduled to go to Conference shortly to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The toy industry has been urging Congress to move the bill forward expeditiously.
Working with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), to develop a Toy Safety Certification Program (TCSP) that will ensure products are carefully tested for conformity to safety standards. The TSCP has three key requirements for certification: 1) a risk analysis conducted on new toy designs; 2) testing of product conformity to US standards by an accredited laboratory; and, 3) auditing of the safety and quality assurance processes used by the factory producing the toy.

Founded in 1918, ANSI is a multi-stakeholder, consensus driven standards and conformity assessment organization that is actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to safety, quality and environmental standards.Status: The programs have been developed through the ANSI process and approved by the TIA Board. Work has now begun on implementation of the program in the field and in 2009 it is expected that the program will include a product certification mark that will signal to consumers that products that bear the mark have successfully met the program’s requirements.

Undertaking a public education program in the US to ensure that there is open and complete communication to all interested parties about the steps industry is taking.Status: Established the http://www.toyinfo.org/ consumer website, with information on toy safety and what the industry is doing. Information is also available at http://www.toyassociation.org/, click on “Toy Safety.” A more comprehensive communications program will begin shortly, as plans for toy safety certification are implemented.

Working with Chinese authorities to help establish stronger in-country testing protocols and inspections for toys intended for export anywhere. Status: AQSIQ, the Chinese equivalent of the US CPSC, has been diligent in insisting upon, and inspecting for conformity with, toy safety standards, particularly as regards the use of lead paint.

These are in addition to TIA’s long-standing programs, which include:

Supporting its members, North American manufacturers and importers, as they strengthen their own safety compliance activities.
Leading the development of international toy safety standards, as TIA has done since the 1930s, in its ongoing effort to ensure that US risk-based standards are first-rate and consumers are safe.

Conducting toy safety seminar programs in China for factory managers, as in the past 11 years, to educate management of the factories producing for the U.S market on compliance with US standards.

Working with US and Chinese government regulatory authorities to ensure that regulatory requirements and voluntary standards complement each other and achieve the desired product safety.

Children are the principal consumers of the products the US toy industry markets and are the industry’s only reason for being. The US toy industry remains fully committed to the safety of children and will do whatever is necessary to correct current safety issues so that the products it markets live up to the standards it has set for them.

Britax

There is a new Harness-2-Booster restraint in the field – introducing the NEW Frontier including True Side Impact Protection minimizing lateral movement and shielding from intrusion in the event of a side impact crash.

The Frontier Harness-2-Booster® started shipping the 2nd week of April. Have you heard of it? Has a parent asked for help with it yet? Here is an outline of the features and capacities so you can familiarize yourself with it before your next event.

Height and Weight range
– Harness Mode
• 2-years of age AND 25 – 80 lbs. forward-facing
• 30”-53” in standing height
• 12”-18.25” seated height (seat to shoulder)
• 8 Harness Height positions
q 12.25” – 18.25”
• 3-buckle positions
q 5”
q 6.5”
q 8.25”
– Booster Mode
• 40 lbs. and more
• 42”-60” in standing height
• 13.5” – 21.5” seated height (seat to shoulder)
Modes of use/installation
– Harness Mode
• LATCH – short route
• Lap-shoulder belt – short OR long route (long route instruction addendum posted http://www.britaxusa.com/)
• Lap belt – short route
• Tether required 65-80 lbs.
• Aircraft approved
• Recline block rotated to front of restraint
– Booster Mode
• Lap-shoulder belt to secure child seat AND child
• LATCH to position child seat in vehicle AND lap-shoulder belt to secure child
• Recline block rotated to back of restraint

The user guide is available on-line (http://www.britaxusa.com/support/userguides.aspx) with detailed guidelines for use and installation.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns and constructive feedback at stilton@BritaxUSA.com.

Thank you
Sarah Tilton
Child Passenger Safety Advocate

MEGA Brands

MEGA BRANDS PARTNERS WITH INTERTEK TO EXCEED CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS WITH NEW MAGNETIC CONSTRUCTION TOY

MEGA Brands is set to launch a revolutionary new magnetic toy construction system called MagNext. This new system will allow for the safest possible magnetic play and will make it possible for children to create bigger, stronger and faster builds.

MagNext will be the first magnetic construction system to have no small parts that contain magnets, setting a new standard in the toy industry, both in terms of safe magnetic play and innovation in the magnetic construction category.

“Children's safety is our number one priority,” stated Marc Bertrand, President and Chief Executive Officer of MEGA Brands. “MEGA Brands is committed to creating the highest safety standards in the toy industry and we are passionate about our quest for zero defects in all the toys we make and our mission for safety without compromise.”

Through a partnership with Intertek, one of the world's leading quality and safety labs, MEGA created a first of its kind ‘ingestion gauge’ that led to the development of MagNext, a line that exceeds all current magnetic toy safety standards.

“We're proud to partner with MEGA Brands to help them achieve their goal of developing a new zero defects program that will set the highest safety standard in the toy industry,” expressed Gene Rider, Vice-President of Intertek.

The design of the core MagNext pieces has been tested and analyzed by Intertek. In addition to leading the way in safety with the new ingestion test, the manufacturing process for these parts has improved by insert-molding the magnets into the plastic parts.

Going forward, Intertek will also apply the most stringent and state-of-the-art safety testing process on all new MEGA toy lines. MEGA’s alignment with Intertek is a testament to its commitment and dedication to creating the highest safety standards in the toy industry. This partnership will reinforce MEGA’s unparalleled dedication to safe toys and practices, and its reputation as a trusted brand when it comes to safety.