Simply installing a car seat in the vehicle is not enough to protect children from injury. According to the Minnesota Safety Council, seven out of 10 Minnesota children are unsafe in their car seats due to improper installation. During the inspection, Mayo Clinic staff will conduct a thorough evaluation of each seat to ensure it is installed properly and meets safety recommendations. Children must be present for accurate inspection of the child restraint. However, more than 1,800 children die as passengers in vehicle crashes nationally each year and over 300,000 are injured.
Many families stop using car seats too soon.