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Travelling safely with your child
Travelling safely with your child
When you have children your priorities change and you suddenly
have to be completely responsible for someone else's life. A
small child relies on you completely for its protection and
welfare. A child's safety is particularly important when
travelling. It is the drivers' responsibility to ensure that all
passengers are properly strapped into the car, especially
children until they can be taught to strap themselves in.
Every year around 30 children between the ages of 0 and 11 are
killed in car accidents, 450 are seriously injured and another
8,000 are slightly injured, according to the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Many of these children
could have been spared from injury if they had been properly
restrained in the car they were travelling in. For example in a
crash at 30 mph where a child is unrestrained they would be
thrown forwards with a force of between 30 and 60 times their
own body weight. There is no substitute for a proper child seat
that is fitted according to the manufacturers' guidelines.
Holding a child without restraint is dangerous as it would be
impossible to hold on tight enough to them in the event of an
accident.
A car seat is the only really safe way to transport your child
in the car. There are different seats you can buy according to
the size and weight of the child. You must buy a seat that is
appropriate and get advice on fitting it in your car. Not all
car seats fit in all cars so you should check with the retailer
before you buy, that your seat is suitable for your car.
To help you buy the right seat for your child we've put together
a list of hints and tips to follow when buying your child's car
seat.
Tips for buying a car seat
*First of all you should make sure that every car seat you
consider meets the United Nations standard Regulation 44.03 and
carries the 'E' mark that verifies this.
*Look at the range of options available. Manufacturers have
websites that list details of their car seats and also lots of
information on safety and helpful user guides. Here is a list of
some of the leading car seat manufacturers.
http://www.britax.co.uk/
http://www.mamasandpapasonline.com/
http://www.maxi-cosi.com/
*When you are buying a car seat for a newborn baby there are two
options available to you. You can either buy a rearward facing
seat which is suitable until your child weighs about 10/13kg.
These are often supplied with buggies and can be lifted in and
out of the car. You can also buy a two-way seat which faces
inwards for about the first year and then outwards until the
child is around 150cms tall. If you go for the rearward facing
seat you will need to buy another seat for the child when it
grows and possibly a booster seat in between for a child that
weighs 15 - 25kgs
*Not all car seats fit all cars so find out which ones are
suitable for your vehicle and then follow the instructions very
carefully
*The car seat should be light and comfortable to carry. This
will make it easier for you to take your baby in and out of the
car
*It seat should be well padded for the child's comfort and have
good head support as a small baby cannot support its own head
*You should never put a rearward facing car seat on a seat where
there is an active airbag because if the airbag inflates in an
accident it could kill your baby. Many cars allow you to disable
the passenger airbag
*Never buy a second hand car seat as like motorcycle helmets you
cannot see all damage that may have been sustained in a previous
accident
*Make sure the seat doesn't wobble about at all and feels very
secure, you could check this every time you put the baby into
the seat
*Check the seat for wear and tear and for any harnesses that may
be twisted
*If you are a member of the AA or the RAC then you can speak to
one of their technical advisors and find out exactly how to fit
your car seat. Call 0990 500600 for the AA and 0990 313131 for
the RAC
All new car seats will have to meet the International Standards
Organisation FIX (ISOFIX). This is a new standard for fitting
car seats and lots of new cars will have to have ISOFIX fitting
points which will enable the seat to be literally plugged into
ISOFIX points in the car. This will make fitting car seats much
safer and much more straightforward. Studies have shown that
many car seats are not fitted properly so this will mean that
children will be much safer in the future.
Car accidents happen all the time so it is better to be safe
than sorry. Make sure that your child's seat is fitted correctly
and that your child still fits the seat, this will help prevent
injury in the event of a road traffic accident. If you are
involved in a car accident that was not your fault and you or
your child are injured then you may be able to make a personal
injury claim.
For more information visit www.wheelsatonce.com and get free
legal advice and assistance following a car accident.
-ENDS-
Editorial notes:
Wheelsatonce provides help to hundreds of people who have been
involved in non fault accidents. They can organise a
compensation claim, a replacement car, repairs to your car and
if you need the services of a breakdown company they can also
get your recovery and storage account paid.
Visit www.wheelsatonce.com or call 0800 78 38 846
About the author:
Author: Sophie Evans - www.wheelsatonce.com Call 0800 78 38 846
for more details
Written By: Sophie Evans
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