Safe Kids in the Vehicle

Kids in the car’ is a very serious topic, for many reasons:

• Every year, kids die when left alone in hot cars.
• Kids get run over when they play close to cars, often this happens in residential areas.
• Kids get injured or die while playing unattended in cars.
• Kids have a different awareness than adults, which sometimes results in unpredictable behavior of kids on our streets.
• Buckle up your kids – always!!
• Babies under the age of one or under 9 kg (20 lb) should be put in a rear-facing car seat, which should rest at a 45-degree angle and the seat belt should not move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch). Use a towel or a piece of fabric to ensure these requirements are met. The chest clip of the seat should be at your baby’s chest at armpit level and the harness straps should be at or below her shoulders with only one finger width between the strap and her chest.
• Once your toddler weighs 9 kg (20 lb), he can start riding facing forward. Follow the manual of the car seat and your car to ensure you properly install it and use the tether strap as the guide indicates. The shoulder straps should be at or below his shoulders with only one finger width between the strap and his chest.
• Booster seats should be used for pre-school aged children up to the age of eight who weigh 18 kg or more, but less than 36 kg (40-80 lb), and who are less than 145 cm (4 feet, 9 inches) tall. Make sure that the lap and shoulder combination belt are used such that your child’s head is supported by the top of the booster, vehicle seat or headrest and the shoulder strap is across her shoulder in the middle of the chest, while the lap belt crosses over the hips (lower than the stomach), and do not use seat belt adjusters. o Children over these age and physical requirements can be buckled up in the seat belts provided in the car. Make sure to never put two children in the same seat belt or place the shoulder strap behind the child’s back.
• Kids can be seen without seat-belts or proper child seats, often roaming around freely in moving cars.
• Kids are sitting on the laps of older passengers or even the driver.
• Kids are getting bored on long drives and need extra care.

Watch out for this:

• Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to ride in the front seat of a vehicle.
• NEVER leave your kid alone in the car.
• Make sure you ALWAYS take your kids with you!
• There is no excuse even for very short periods of time!
• Be extra careful and watch out for kids when you park or reverse your car, especially in residential areas where kids could play
• Make sure kids do not play in your car unattended
• Be extra careful when you spot kids on the streets or on sidewalks – they might behave unpredictable
• Pay close attention when your kids enter or exit the vehicle and make them aware of the surrounding traffic
• Always use proper seat belts or child seats for your kids
• Never leave them roam around freely in your car
• Do not have your kid sitting on the laps of other passengers or the driver
• When you drive longer distances with kids, make sure you take ample of rests for them, have proper snacks and things (games, books, etc.) against boredom for them