The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is sharing the following information provided by Safe Kids Worldwide, regarding the tether strap on car seats, for their March car safety tip:
What is a tether?
The tether is the strap with a hook on it coming from the back or the top of your child’s car seat.
What does a tether do?
When the tether is attached and tightened to the correct tether anchor in your vehicle (check your vehicle owner’s manual for the proper anchor and it’s not a cargo anchor!), the tether prevents the forward facing car seat from tipping forward.
Is it important to use?
Yes, it is. Using the tether could be the difference between a brain injury and no injury during a crash. The tether prevents the forward facing car seat from tilting forward in a crash. This pitching forward can lead to the child’s head hitting the back of the front seat or the console.
How do I use my tether?
Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for the correct location of the tether anchor in your vehicle. Locate the tether strap on the top or back of your child’s car seat. Attach the hook to the anchor and remove the slack from the strap. Simple.
The tether is a critical element of car seat installation, but many parents and caregivers overlook the tether. In a survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide, 64 percent of caregivers with a child in a forward facing car seat were not using the tether.