Our children are precious - safeguard them in the car

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 48, 13 May 1986, Page 11

Our children are precious - safeguard them in the car

It is disturbing to see the number of children in cars who are not safely restrained in any way. Some stand behind front seats or even up at the windpcreen. If you love your children keep them safe while travelling and securely restrain them. An unrestrained child may become a flying object in a crash or sudden stop. At speeds as low as 40km per hour a child can be thrown forward or backwards, hitting the windscreen, back window, or another person, with impact similar to being dropped from a high building. If you think of a child being dropped on concrete from a high building you are close to the effect. Child restraints can minimise the risk of injury to your child. It is important that from the beginning the child is restrained when travelling in your car. •Infants should be placed in a bassinet, securely fastened to the car and placed across the rear seat with head towards the middle.

•With toddlers or preschoolers use a combination of seat and harness securely fitted to the car. Do not use one that hooks over or under the seat, or with a rail in front of it. •School-age children may wear an adult belt, if necessary with booster seat or cushion, which must be securely anchored. It must be firm enough to prevent your child slipping off or sinking into it. It is important that your child is encouraged to wear restraint as a normal part of car travel, so that it becomes a habit. A Plunket leaflet suggests the following: "Memo: an important message to parents — that you play the game of buckling yourself

and the child in before the engine will start." Remember, no matter how much your child objects to wearing restraints you must be firm and consistent and insist they are used every time you travel in the car. Set a good example by always wearing your own seat belt and insist that everyone else in the car does so before moving off. The Plunket Society has car seats for hire. Inquire from your local branch.