child restraint GMC CANYON 2005 User Guide

{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a body area
that is unprotected by any bony structure.
This alone could cause serious or fatal
injuries. Young children always should be
secured in appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous at
surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.
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A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with
the seating surface against the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant in place and,
in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in
the restraint.A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
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A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner,
and some high-back booster seats have a ve-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see
out the window.
Q:How do child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. The ve-point harness
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a
crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip
straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that
are attached to a at pad which rests low against the
child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield
that swings up or to the side.
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When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will
have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
nd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system or
the LATCH system in your vehicle, but the child also
has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the
chance of personal injury. When securing an add-on
child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the
restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint
instructions are important, so if they are not available,
obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in
the right front passenger seat unless your vehicle has
an airbag off switch and the airbag off light shows off.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right
front passenger seat unless the airbag is off.
Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the inating
airbag. Be sure to turn off the airbag before
using a rear-facing child restraint in the right
front seat position.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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CAUTION: (Continued)
Even though the airbag off switch is designed
to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag, no system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be transported in vehicles with
a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing
child restraint, whenever possible.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move
the right front passenger seat as far back as it
will go. It is better to secure the child restraint
in a rear seat.Do not use child restraints in the center front seat
position. The restraints will not work properly.
If you need to secure a rear-facing child restraint in
the right front passenger’s position, the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag must be off. SeeSecuring a
Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
(Models with an Airbag Off Switch)andSecuring a
Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System
(Regular/Extended Cab — No Rear Seats)in the Index,
andAirbag Off Switch on page 1-71for more on this
including important safety information.
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move
around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in
the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint
in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
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Top Strap
Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether”.
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are
designed for use with or without the top strap being
anchored. Others require the top strap always to be
anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap be
anchored, do not use the restraint unless it is anchored
properly.
If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one can
be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a
top strap, it should be anchored.
Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor
points. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the
same side of the vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be placed. If you have an
adjustable head restraint, route the top strap over it.
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When using a top strap-equipped child restraint in a
rear outboard seating position of a crew cab model,
route the top strap over the top of the seatback. Then,
attach it to the anchor point for that seating position.
{CAUTION:
Each top tether bracket is designed to anchor
only one child restraint. Attaching more than
one child restraint to a single bracket could
cause the anchor to come loose or even break
during a crash. A child or others could be
injured if this happens. To help prevent injury
to people and damage to your vehicle, attach
only one child restraint per bracket.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you will be
ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top
strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions say.
Top Strap Anchor Location
{CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. SeeWhere to Put the
Restraint on page 1-40orAirbag Off Switch on
page 1-71.
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Crew Cab
A. Top Strap Anchorage
B. Seatback LatchThere are top strap anchors on the back wall behind
each rear seating position. You must pull the seatback
forward to access the top strap anchors (A). SeeRear
Seat Operation (Crew Cab)in the Index.
1. Release the rear seatback from its latches (B).
SeeRear Seat Operation (Crew Cab)in the
Index for instructions.
2. Attach the top strap to the anchor (A).
Make sure that you secure the top strap to the top
strap anchor (A) and not to the seatback latch (B).
3. Push rearward on the seatback until it locks into its
upright position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
secured properly.
Do not secure a child restraint with a top strap in the
right front passenger’s position if a national or local law
requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the
instructions that come with the child restraint say that
the top strap must be anchored. There is no place
to anchor the top strap in this position. Crew Cab
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Extended Cab with Rear Seats
A. Top strap routing loops
B. Top strap anchors
C. LATCH anchors (SeeLower Anchorages and Top
Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-46.There are two top strap anchorages on the center of the
back wall located behind a removable cover for the
rear seating positions. You must route the top strap
through the loop (A) at the top of the seatback to attach
the top strap to the one of the top strap anchors (B)
as shown.
Do not secure a child restraint with a top strap in the
right front passenger’s position if a national or local law
requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the
instructions that come with the child restraint say that
the top strap must be anchored. There is no place
to anchor the top strap in this position.
Regular and Extended Cabs without
Rear Seats
There is a top strap anchor located behind a removable
cover on the back wall behind the right front passenger
seat. You must pull the seatback forward to access
the top strap anchors. SeeSeatback Latches on
page 1-8. Extended Cab with Rear Seats
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Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle is equipped with the LATCH System.
For crew cabs, there are anchors for each outboard
seating position. You will nd the anchors where
the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion.
For extended cabs with rear seats, there are anchors
for each rear seating position. You will nd the anchors
attached to the back wall near the seat cushion.
For regular cabs and extended cabs without rear seats,
there are anchors for the right front passenger
position. You will nd the anchors where the seatback
meets the back of the seat cushion.
To assist you in locating the anchors, place your hand
in a palm-up position and reach up between the
seat cushion and the seatback.
This system, designed to make installation of child
restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts.
Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraint
attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints
also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top
tether strap.A. Lower Anchorage
B. Lower Anchorage
C. Top Tether
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