PLUNKET GROUP SEEKS SUPPORT FOR SAFETY SEAT PURCHASES

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 13, 28 August 1984, Page 9

PLUNKET GROUP SEEKS SUPPORT FOR SAFETY SEAT PURCHASES

In a road traffic safety seminar held in Wellington recently, Dr David Geddis, Plunket's medical director and Dr Ian Appleton from the Ministry of Transport, recommended further Government support for the Plunket Society's car-seat rental operation. The scheme started over two years ago nationwide and the Ministry of Transport are certain that its success has meant more awareness on the importance of child support in vehicles. More than 300 Plunket centres now operate a carseat rental operation of varying degrees. Over half of these seats are used for babies under six months old . Dr Appleton commented that there are around 50,000 births each year in New Zealand. "Dunedin statistics show that 60 percent of parents with new-born babies choose to rent seats," he added. Plunket has so far raised $1 million nationwide

to buy car-seats and they also administer their use. "It is unrealistic to expect the Plunket Society to provide the funds for more additional seats," Dr Geddis said, "and some administrative schemes,"he concluded. Kathy Enwright, who operates the scheme for Raetihi Plunket, said last week that the success nationwide is mirrored in the Waimarino region. Her society currently has 1 7 child seats and 1 1 baby seats with a total value of approx $3,000 which was raised through the sterling work of the Society's members. "When the scheme first began," Mrs Enwright said, "we sent letters to all the local businesses requesting donations. The response then was encouraging — it meant that we were able to buy enough seats to meet the demand:" "This is not the case now," she added, "as we presently have a waiting list and

urgently need to buy at least ten more seats." According to Mrs Enwright, one way they found successful last time was the 'Sponsor-a-peat' idea, where a business purchased a seat and had its name engraved on the side. Graeme Cole, Ohakune's traffic officer, supports the work that Raetihi Plunket had done and also urges the community at large to get hehind the scheme. He gets particularly angry when- he sees children unrestrained in cars, either standing up in the back seat or being nursed in the front or back seat$ . "Some people should know better," he said "there are parents around town who let their kiddies sit between them or, worse still, let them stand up whilst the car is moving! When I was stationed in Wellington, I frequently stopped people that were

not using restraints on their children. However, I often met with an antagonistic attitude. Parents felt that it was their business not mine." "Fortunately", he concluded, "new legislation in November, will give traffic officers the opportunity to intervene when children under eight years of age are unrestrained in the car." This new legislation will mean that the demand for rental seats will increase. With the present car-seat numbers, Raetihi Plunket would not be able to cope. Hence their need for additional funds. As Mr Cole wisely commented "People say that child car seats cost too rnuch, but what price do you put on your kids!"

Mary Anne

Gill