Maricopa Integrated Health System

Maricopa Integrated Health System - Services & Programs

Transportation Related Injury Prevention Program (TRIPP)

Need a car seat?

If your child has been a patient in the hospital or clinic, please call 602-344-5364.

Maricopa Integrated Health System provides toddler car safety seats for children over 14 lbs. and booster seats for children 40 to 100 lbs. or 5 to 8 years of age. Children admitted to Maricopa Medical Center, the Arizona Burn Center, or seen in the outpatient burn clinic or one of our Family Health Centers may receive car safety seats.

This program is funded by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Important Safety Tips

A car seat is an important piece of baby equipment that you need. An unsecured child could easily be injured in the event of a car crash. You should always have them installed by an expert. MIHS will provide you with a car seat and help you install it in your car. Please read the following important safety tips:

Use a car seat every time your baby rides in your car. This practice should begin with your baby's initial trip home from the hospital. The safest place for children to ride is in the back seat.
Toddlers should always ride in the back seat of the car.
Children over 1 year weighing more than 20 lbs. should ride forward facing in the back seat of the car.
Car seat harness straps should be snug and the harness clip fastened at the armpit level.
Route harness straps through the upper slot for forward facing position.
For rear facing position, infants in a convertible car seat should be in a reclined 45 degree position and the harness straps should be at or below shoulder level.
If using a convertible car seat, adjust the car seat in the upright position.
The car seat should be tightly installed with the vehicle belts or latch system of the car.
Some forward-facing seats called combination seats can be used as a belt positioning booster. When the child reaches upper weight limits of 40 lbs, the straps are removed and the vehicle belts are used.
Boosters can only be used with both lap and shoulder belts of the car.

Things to Know

Common Mistakes - (English)

Common mistakes made when using or installing car seats.

Car seat facing the wrong direction in vehicle.
Car seat has been recalled or involved in a crash.
Infant car seat is in the path of an airbag.
Child moved into seat belt instead of a booster seat.

Common Mistakes - (Spanish)

Errores comunes que se cometen cuando se usa o instala un asiento de seguridad.

El asiento de seguridad volteado hacía la dirección equivocada.
El asiento de seguridad ha sido retirado del mercado o ha estado envuelto en un accidente.
El asiento de seguridad para infantes se encuentra en el siento donde hay una bolsa de aire.
El niño es transferido a usar el cinturón de seguridad en lugar de un asiento "booster."

Child Restraint Re-use After minor Crashes

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.
NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not need to be replaced following a minor crash.
Minor crashes are those that meet all of the following criteria:
- The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
- The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;
- There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
- The air bags (if present) did not deploy; and
- There is no visible damage to the safety seat

To read more about re-use of car seats after minor crashes, click here.

Car Seat Resources