7 TIPS FOR CAR SEAT SAFETY

Seatbelts and child car seats save lives daily.

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The power of a parent’s love, however strong, cannot protect a child from the massive forces of a car accident – unless age-appropriate car seats and safety belts are used every time a child travels in a vehicle, no matter how short the distance.

CRITICAL CARE & CAUTION
“When you see what we as paramedics have to deal with at accident scenes, you’ll understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt and securing your child safely in a child seat,” says Charné van der Berg, Netcare 911’s critical care operations manager.

“It is especially chilling to arrive at a scene and find a mother cradling her child after he’s been ejected through the windscreen. As a parent myself, I cannot emphasise the importance of car seats enough.”

Over the recent 2022/2023 festive season, 1 451 people were killed in road accidents (down from 1 685 over the previous year’s summer holiday period), with the Transport Ministry drawing attention to the life-saving importance of seat belts and child car seats.

In 2021, seven percent of South Africa’s road accident passenger fatalities were children under 14, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation. Statistics SA’s recent Causes of Death and Mortality Survey revealed that road accidents accounted for 4.2% of non-natural deaths for babies under a year old, and 15.5% for children aged one to 14 years old.

PREVENTING ACCIDENTS
For children under the age of two years, a rear-facing car seat on the front passenger seat is recommended. As they get older, this set-up should change to a front-facing car seat on the back seat. Once children outgrow a car seat, they are still too small for conventional seatbelts to be optimally effective and need to be secured in a booster seat.

“Accidents happen when they are least expected – even a quick trip down the road to the shop can have fatal consequences if a child is not safely restrained. According to Arrive Alive, properly installed child safety seats can reduce the need for hospitalisation among seatbelts and child car seats save lives daily children younger than four years by 69% in road traffic accidents,” Charné adds.

“It is never safe for a child to sit on an adult’s lap while travelling in a car. The adult may be strapped in with a safety belt, but the force of a collision is so immense that the child isn’t protected at all. People often think they would be able to hold onto their child in the event of an accident, but in reality that’s not possible,” she says.

A 2019 observational study conducted among visitors to a children’s hospital in Cape Town recorded fewer than one in five child passengers using safety restraints. Concerningly, a third of children were completely unprotected from injury as they were sitting on the lap of an adult.

“Although toddlers have a will of their own and can be especially difficult when being strapped in, as the responsible adult it is up to you to make it a routine part of every car trip. It takes two minutes but it can save a lifetime of regret,” says Charné.

“Even if you are the most cautious driver, there are so many variables that contribute to accidents. Without a doubt, car seats and seat belts used correctly save lives every day. Unfortunately not enough people are using them.”

Unequivocally, these car safety devices make a big difference to survival and minimising injuries in motor vehicle accidents. “Set a good example for your children; always make sure everyone is strapped in safely and never take a chance.”

SEVEN TIPS FOR CAR SEAT SAFETY
1. Do your research when buying a car seat. Visit the Automobile Association’s website for the specifications and regulations to ensure your choice of car seat is compliant. Also make sure it is quality assured by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

2. Install child safety restraints correctly according to the seat manufacturer’s instructions and check these against your car owner’s manual.

3. Ensure your child’s car seat is right for their age and weight. Replace the seat as needed when your child outgrows their car seat.

4. Make sure to check all the clips and buckles, including those securing the seat into the car, every time you travel with your child.

5. Make sure straps are tight-fitting to be effective in an accident, and to prevent driver distraction that could lead to an accident.

6. Be consistent. There is no negotiation when it comes to car safety – your child or infant has to be properly secured every time.

7. Avoid dressing your child in bulky clothing, as this can affect the fit of child restraints and make them less effective. Layers of thinner fabric will not compress under force. Put a blanket over the restraints once your child is safely buckled in.

FIND OUT MORE
For more info on the services offered through Netcare hospitals and other Netcare facilities, visit netcare.co.za or contact the customer service centre by phoning 0860 638 2273 or emailing customer.service@netcare.co.za

*Note that the centre operates Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 4pm.

Text: Supplied By Mna On Behalf Of Netcare 911.
Photograph: Gallo/Getty. Illustrations: Freepik