Take Your Child to Work Day

April 28th is "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" (previously known as "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" and sometimes informally referred to as "Take Your Child to Work Day"). An educational program sponsored by a non-profit organization, this nationwide event revolves around parents taking their children to work with them for one day, which gives kids a chance to envision possibilities for the future and learn more about what their parents and mentors do in the workplace.

We thought we'd take this opportunity to lay out some child car safety tips, so that if you do decide to bring your little one to the office, you can ensure his or her safety on the way.

CAR SEATS AND BOOSTER SEATS

According to the CDC, car seat use reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries by 54 percent among children aged 1 to 4; booster seat use reduces the risk of injury by 45 percent among children aged 4 to 8 when compared with seat belt use alone.

Most school-aged children are big enough to have graduated from a rear- or forward-facing car seat to a belt-positioning booster seat, which they should use until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. Children younger than 13 should always ride in the back of the vehicle, as the front airbags pose a safety risk for young kids.

Safe Kids Worldwide reports that 73 percent of car seats are not installed properly. This car seat checklist is a quick way to ensure that all your bases are covered.

SEAT BELTS

For older children and adults, seat belt use cuts the risk of death and serious injury by about half. The adult lap and shoulder belt system will not fit most children until they're 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 through 12 years of age. The belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs when the child is sitting, without slouching, with knees bent and feet on the floor. Never allow your child to sit with the shoulder belt behind his or her back.

The best way to convince your child to wear a seat belt? Wear your own seat belt each and every time you get in the car, and your child will learn that buckling up is a given.

TOYS

Hard toys with sharp edges can injure a child in a crash, so make sure there aren't any loose toys in the vehicle, and stick to soft toys like stuffed animals inside the car.