Make sure kids are properly restrained in vehicles Published Sept. 17, 2010 By Emily Wolfgeher 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of kids. Why? In many cases, children are either not properly buckled into their safety seats or parents do not realize that a booster seat is vital to ensuring children fit safely in their vehicle's seat belt. While installing and using child safety seats and booster seats may appear to be easy enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that close to three out of four parents do not properly use child restraints ... and if you are one of them, that child safety seat may not protect your child the way it should. State laws regarding child safety seats differ, so if you are new to Oklahoma it is important to know the requirements of Oklahoma laws. All children under the age of 6 are required to be in a child restraint in the back seat of any vehicle in which they are a passenger. Children under 6, weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a vehicle using the seatbelt configuration (lap belt or combination lap and shoulder belt) available in the vehicle. In addition, the law indicates that a child must be properly secured or restrained, which means that the seat must be used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. As a part of Child Passenger Safety Week, a National Seat Check Event will be held Sept. 25 for parents and loved ones who wish to ensure that the safety restraints in their vehicles are properly installed to protect their child. The Edmond Fire Station No. 1 at 915 East Second Street will conduct car seat checks from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25. Many other organizations provide this service as well, on an appointment only basis. These organizations can be found online at http://www.nhtsa.gov/ cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. Don't take a chance. Have your child's safety seat inspected.