Video: Car safety 101!

It's getting warmer outside, and as we transition, parents everywhere are thinking about summer plans, swim lessons and sunscreen. Sure, we all know the safety rules when we're by the pool, but are you making one of the five most common car safety mistakes?  Our cars have practically become another living room for our families: our kids talk, eat, and even sleep in them when we are on the road, so it's time to do a thorough once over of our cars to make sure that they are 100% safe for our kids.

We all know that we should use car seats and seatbelts, that we should use child safety locks and that we should avoid smoking in the car. But there are other things to think about too.

 For example, do you have strollers and sports equipment rolling around in the back of your station wagon? (Any loose items can become dangerous projectiles in a collision). Have you checked to make sure that your car cabin air filters are clean? (pollutants and allergens like dust, pollen, mildew, and smoke can cause problems like asthma attacks and chest pains) Are your car seats securely fastened? (You might think so, but often siblings can loosen or unhook their brothers or sisters without meaning to).

FIVE SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR CAR A SAFER PLACE:

·        Secure loose items in your car: strollers, groceries and sports equipment can become hazardous in an accident

·        Check or replace air filters: Keep the bad stuff out

·        Check car seats regularly to make sure they are secure: They can get loose, or unfastened

·        Be cautious with snack choices in the back seat: Only let your kids snack on foods that are not choking hazards

·        No smoking: no matter what