2001 Ford Escape Owner's Manual - Page 136

Seating and safety restraints If you install a child seat with LATCH attachments, do not tighten the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the seat when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without raising the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the front of the vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash. Once you have installed the lower anchors for child seat installation safety seat, assure that the seat is properly attached to the lower anchors for child seat installation and tether anchors. Also, test the safety seat before you place the child in it. Tilt the seat from side to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if the anchors hold the seat in place. If the safety seat in not anchored properly, the risk of a child being injured in a collision greatly increases. 136