shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com September 17, 2019 • Page 13 Home Improvement all & Car Care F The Safest Place For Kids In The Car Riding in a vehicle can be an exciting prospect for children. Such rides provide a chance to see the world outside of the house, and the speed with which scenery is flying by can be exhilarating for young minds. Children are first introduced to riding in cars as babies, when child safety seats will keep them secure. Although laws vary depending on where people are driving, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children remain in a rearfacing car seat until age 2 or older. As they get older and gain weight, children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their seats should use a forwardfacing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer, says the AAP. When children are old enough to graduate from car seat to booster seat to sitting in the car with only a seat belt, parents may wonder about where their youngsters can sit when riding in a vehicle. One area of the car tends to be safer than others for children. Researchers from the University of Buffalo who studied crash-related fatalities in relation to seat location discovered that the backseat is 59 to 86 percent safer than the front seat. What’s more, the middle seat in the back of the car is 25 percent safer than the window seats. 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Make sure your roof maintenance, installation or repairs are being performed by a trusted and expertieced professional. Things to Consider Before Warming Up Next to Your First Fire This Winter A warm fire can make even the coldest winter day more enjoyable. Fireplaces may not get much use in spring or summer, but come late fall and throughout the insulated. However, the 4 Kids says studies show middle seat is only the the safest place in the car winter, the fireplace can be a great place for families to gather. safest when used with for tweens is the back, Before fireplace season hits full swing, homeowners a full seat belt, rather until they are at least 13 might want to brush up on a few fireplace facts so they than just a lap harness; years of age. can safely enjoy nights spent sitting by the crackling otherwise, children should Riding in the middle flames. sit in the back where a seat in the back of the The Chimney Safety Institute of America advises full three-point seat belt car is the safest place for homeowners with fireplaces to hire a CSIA-certified is available, advises the passengers, including chimney sweep to clean their fireplaces. After a lengthly National Highway Traffic children. 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