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Gayle H. from Evanston, IN wrote us recently with some questions about the tethers associated with the EZ-On Adjustable Vest. "I'm a little confused about which one to buy. Should I get the Tether Mount or Floor Mount version? And do I need two different vests for our car and the school bus my child rides?" Our expert, Product Specialist Scott Kouri, is here to help. We get questions like yours a lot, Gayle. We've also had a few confused customers buy the wrong mount thinking there was no real difference between them. I'm going to try to make things a little clearer with this post.
Safety Begins With Proper Sizing
Before we get into the questions, let's talk about sizing for a moment. To get the safest, most secure fit, you need to take a moment to choose the right size EZ-On Vest for your loved one. EZ-On sizes its vests based on waist circumference. To help our customers out, we have a sizing chart under the Specifications tab of our product pages to help guide you. After all, the right mounts and tethers won't help you if the vest doesn't fit.
Check For Your Anchors
When we talk about "mounts," we mean the strap or tether that connects the anchors on the shoulders of the EZ-On Vest to a tether anchor installed in the vehicle. You'll find a tether anchor "“ the small metal ring to which you'll clip your mount "“ behind the rear passenger seats in one of three places: the parcel shelf, on the back of the seat or in the floor of the cargo area. All cars made since late 1999 must have tether anchors installed, so check your owner's manual if you have trouble finding them. If you have an older vehicle, you may have to look into having a tether anchor installed by a professional.
Different Mounts for Different Uses
Most vehicles have only one tether anchor behind each back seat, making the EZ-On Tether Mount the best choice for most situations. This tether keeps the shoulders in place and the user in an upright position, while the seat belt (with supplemental Seat Belt Buckle Guard) secures the hips in front. When a seat belt isn't available, the EZ-On Floor Mount can provide added security. This mount is also useful with particularly clever or stubborn children who can somehow get free of the Tether Mount. The Floor Mount requires two tether anchors to secure the child's hips, though, so you'll most likely need extra ones installed at your local dealership. You'll also need to be able to slip the two hip strap connectors between the seat and seat back for attaching to the D-rings on the vest. The EZ-On Seat Mount is for use in Yellow School Buses ONLY due to the specific dimensions of most bus seats. This mount are not for use in a family vehicle. However, it is possible to use the same vest for both school bus and automobile travel, as you'll read below.
One Vest or Two?
Now let's discuss Gayle's other question about how many vests she needs. Lots of families that use the EZ-On Adjustable Vest for Family Vehicles also need help securing their child when they ride off to school on the bus. That doesn't mean they need to buy two vests, though. You can have the EZ-On Adjustable Vest customized to feature both the security strapping and D-rings needed for both the Tether and Seat mount at no extra cost. That way, your child can go from the school bus Seat Mount to family car Tether Mount and vice versa without changing vests at all. This is also convenient if you happen to have both a newer and older model vehicle and are using both the Floor and Tether mounts. Our Product Specialists can customize your order with no problem, though you may have to wait just a little longer for delivery. I should also note that EZ-On can customize vests for children and adults who are over and under the standard sizes. They can also make specialized vests for conjoined twins, air travel, infants traveling in supine positions, g-tubes users and more. By calling us at 877-664-4565, we can prepare a quote for whatever you type of vest need.
Keep Those Questions Coming
Gayle's questions are just a few the ones we get every day here at eSpecial Needs. If you have questions about the proper use or benefits of any of the products we offer, let us know! Drop us a line by clicking on the "Ask the Expert" box in the sidebar or through our Contact Us page. We'll do everything we can to get you the answers you're looking for.
