Keeping Children Safe
Protecting vulnerable children on the road
Finding and installing the right car seat!
Children are most protected in a moving vehicle when they are buckled up in sets which are appropriate for their age. Usually, the most important factor in finding a car seat is age appropriateness.
Normally car seats can be
Rear Facing
Forward facing
Booster seats
Precautions must be exercised while purchasing a car seat. It is always wise to purchase a new car seat rather than depending upon a hand me down one. Make sure the seat is well built and comfortable and comes with a comprehensive installation manual.
Beyond Car Seats: Ensuring child safety on the road
So, you have done your research regarding car seats- have talked to experienced parents, read reviews of different brands, evaluated your top choices in store and have finally purchased the one that you found to be most sturdy and comfortable. It is a very smart, very impressive looking one! You and your spouse happily installed it in your car but is that enough to ensure your child’s safety in car?
A car seat is just the first step in ensuring child safety on roads.
Heat Stroke in cars
So, you are driving to grocery store on a usual summer afternoon with your kid strapped in car seat. You just have to pick a few things and the idea of unstrapping your toddler, settling him in a trolley and then picking grocery- well it seems like an ordeal in your head! You decide to leave the child in the car seat for just 5 minutes…. Just 5 short minutes! Not a very wise decision. When a child is left in vehicle, the child’s temperature can rise very quickly and this in a matter of minutes can turn into a dangerous situation. If the body temperature crosses 104 F, heat stroke begins and the child can die if the body temperature reaches 107 F and beyond.
Prevent Hot Car Deaths
• Never leave a child unattended in a car.
• Remember- rolling down windows or turning the AC on is of little help.
• Do not let children play in the car with anything other than their toys
• Be aware that some seat belts have a retractor that locks if pulled all the way out.
• As a bystander, if you see a child in a car unattended, immediately call for help.
Seat belts - Safety measure or safety hazards?
A seat belts your one of the most important safety gears in a car can turn very quickly into a hazard when grabbed by a tiny fist! Toddlers often like to play with belts but often end up wounding them around their heads, necks or stomachs.
Always Remember
• To properly buckle or restrain your child in a car seat
• Teach your children from a young age that seat belts are not toys
• Do not let children play in the car with anything other than their toys
• Be aware that some seat belts have a retractor that locks if pulled all the way out.
• If a child has an unused seat belt within reach, buckle unused seat belts. Pull the seat belt out all the way to the end without yanking. Then, feed the excess webbing back into the retractor.
Trunk Lure!
The game of Hide and Seek brings such nostalgic feels and finding that coveted spot where no one is able to find you! That truly made us feel like a real winner! One of the most secure hiding places for kids amongst many others is always the trunk of the car- a dark and mysterious hiding place triggers the natural curiosity of children and off they go to explore it without any realization of danger. Entrapped in the car trunk, the novelty and excitement wear off fairly quickly as temperature rises along with risks of heat stroke and asphyxiation. As parents, please be vigilant and following tips may help:-
• Teach kids that trunk is for cargo and not for playing.
• Immediately check your car trunk if your child is missing.
• When parking your car – Pause – Look -Lock and that includes the car trunk.
• Make sure car keys and any remote device that can be used to operate the vehicle are out of children’s reach at all times.
STAY VIGILANT- STAY SAFE