Rear Facing Seats

Babies and young children have large heads and weak neck and back muscles. Rear facing seats face “backwards” so that the force of a crash or sudden stop is spread across the baby’s back and supported by the car seat. A baby’s neck and back muscles are not strong enough to withstand forces during a crash and therefore must be supported by the seat.

Forward Facing Seats

Forward-facing child seats can be used once the child is at least one year of age and 10 kgs. (22 lbs.) and can walk. It is safer to leave a child in his rear-facing child seat until he outgrows it, then progress to forward facing. Forward-facing child seats must be used until the child has reached at least 18 kgs. (40 lbs.).

Booster Seats and Adult Seat Belt Use

As of June of 2014, it is law in Saskatchewan that children must use a booster until age 7, or weigh 36 kgs (80 lbs.) AND stand 145 cm (4’9”) tall. Legal requirements often reflect a minimal standard. Children will be safer if they continue to use a booster beyond the legal requirement, until the seat belt fits them properly.

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Safety

“Children must be allowed to play. However, when recreation becomes lethal or results in permanent disability and heartache for a family, then it can no longer be considered ‘fun’.”