CHILD’S SAFETY IN YOUR CAR
·
Children
below 13 years should not be in the front passenger seat.
·
Beyond
13 years age, they should have proper booster seats to allow the seat belt to
fit snugly across the chest and tops of thighs.
·
If
the car has passenger side airbags, the seat should be pushed back to give
inflating space.
·
Buckle
children travelling at the back in child or infant seats.
·
Make
use of convertible seats for the baby and slightly older child.
·
No
child should be travelling in a car unless properly strapped in.
·
Activate
the child locks on the doors and windows so that they deactivate the handles
and switches on the rear doors.
·
Use
an infant seat, facing backwards, for children of 1-2 years.
·
After
they are 2 years, switch to a front facing child seat.
·
No
single seat will work for both a 2-year old and a 12-year old, so you will have
to discard them accordingly as he grows older.
·
If
the seat does not fit snugly around your child, it is useless.
·
Read
instruction manuals on the correct installing and using them.
·
If
you need to use padding to prevent slouching, use it at the sides, never in the
front or back, where it can harm the harness.
·
Change
the seat when the shoulders go above the anchor points.
·
If
you need to keep him warm, put a blanket over the harness.
·
Retrofit
the older cars which do not have seat belts at the rear used to install child
seats.
·
Never
leave your child alone in a locked car, especially one standing in the hot
summer sun.
·
There
have been instances of children, even older ones, dying of heat and suffocation
after being left in a car, as temperatures can go well past 60 degrees Celsius.
·
There
can be other problems too, such as brakes being released and getting trapped in
the boot.
·
Finally,
set a good example for your child by buckling up and securing yourself too.