Child passenger safety was a major focus for National Transport month and with car accidents being the number one cause of unnatural deaths to children in South Africa according to Red Cross Children’s Hospital, parents are being reminded to buckle up the family as the busy festive approaches.
South Africa law currently states that all children (three years and older) have to be restrained in a seatbelt or car restraint and all children below the age of three have to be restrained in a car safety seat.
But an observational study done by the Child Accident Prevention Foundation (CAPFSA) states that of the individuals witnessed, 79% of children were not properly restrained in either a car safety seat or seatbelt.
The statistics are dire and Red Cross Children’s Hospital treats between 200 – 300 children with injuries as passengers at the Trauma Unit of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital a year. Of these children, over 80% are not restrained in any way.
Minimum of 18 children treated per month
This is an average of 18 children per month that are treated for injuries sustained while a passenger that could be avoided if they were properly restrained.
“With the festive season soon upon us and an increase of vehicles on the road, the need to educate parents about child safety remains of the utmost importance,” comments Luc Herman, the head of GoBooster South Africa, an inflatable car booster safety seat for children between ages of 4 and 12 years of age.
“Everyone, parents and otherwise, with precious cargo needs to take responsibility for the safety of their passengers and ensure they are properly restrained. Baby seats and booster seats are a travelling must-have if travelling anywhere by car.
An easy to pack, inflatable booster seat is the most convenient but whether hiring or bringing your own baby/booster seat, children need to be properly and safely restrained,” he says.
(Press release, November 2012)
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