I am deeply distressed at the news of the demise of the legend Balabhaskar’s daughter, brought back unforgettable memories that is lingering in my subconscious and conscious mind.
I have never used a car seat in my life for a child, I never had any.
The first child death, in a car accident, close to me was the grandson of Mr. Ranganatha Reddiar, Radhas, Kollam, Son of Subhalakshmi Chechy, who died in Alleppey when their ambassador car had an accident. Ganesh the little one was in the front seat sleeping on his aunt’s lap. If I am not mistaken this was nearly 5 decades ago. He was a darling and first born grandson in the family.
When I left for Africa with my Son, Car seats were the least of the priority for the Government and people of Zambia, by the time I reached Sydney, Australia he was no more a toddler. When I started coming to US, I could see car seats in most of the cars. When I took my driving license in the US sometime in the 2000’s, I had to learn the rules and regulations regarding alcohol usage and child safety.
I am noting them here, to keep our children safe!!
Car seat selection depends on very strict rules and norms.
Infants – Newborns up to 2 years: Children under the age of 2 should always ride in a rear facing car seat.
Rear facing car seat cradles, moving with the child, reducing the impact on neck and spinal chord. Try to keep your child in a convertible car seat until 2 years of age. Please make sure not to keep any rolled sheets or blankets or pillows around the head or under the neck, if there are any keep on the side of the infant. Do not keep any other material in the seat.
2-4 years: Keep children in rear facing as long as you can, until age of 2 or until the child reaches the height or weight limit allowed by the seat manufacturer, once the child overgrows this limit he/she can switch to a forward facing seat.
4-8 years: Once the child overgrows the forward facing car seat with a harness, he/she is ready to use a booster seat
8-12 years : Your child needs to ride in a booster seat until he/she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. The lap belt must be tight or close fitting, and secure across the upper thighs not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie tight or close fitting, and secure across the shoulder and chest and not across the neck or face.
It is very important to follow every bit of manufacturer’s instructions when car seats for children are used. Please make sure not to get over enthusiastic, complacent and “I know it all, why read the manual”
When it comes to observing the rules for a child seat.
FIXING
Seats, belt, harness straps, harness clips and their correct positions, latching the belt, using top tethers,
Position of the child based on the top of the ears,
Position of shoulder pads
Understanding types of forward facing and combinations seats with 5-point harness
Installing the seat properly with or without base is very important.
Everything has strict process and procedure and it is most important to read and follow them meticulously.
Seat belts usually fit properly when the kids have reached 4 ft 9 inches and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Booster seats are used to raise the child, so that the vehicles seat belt lies secure and flat along the child’s collar bone and thighs just as it would stay on an adult.
Make sure pillows or books are not used as a booster seat, always use vehicles combined lap or shoulder safety belts with booster seats, or else it causes harm to the child.
Even if the child is big he/she needs to be buckled, they should sit straight against the back of the vehicle with knee bent comfortably, if the child’s legs stick out straight they need to have the booster seat, even if they are above the age limit.
Safety belt, booster seat, seat belt one of this is a must.
Never give any hard toys to the child to play with inside the car, never keep any loose metal tools and metal piece, loose hard things inside the car, even in the boot, at the time of an accident these things can hit us like a projectile and cause more damage.
Never try to pass on a big seat from the elder one, to an infant, the seat should be appropriate to the child’s weight, height and age. Most manufacturers’ recommend replacing a car seat after 6 years.
Now a days the car seats have registration numbers which allows to check on the data of safety or recalls.
Lets get the road safety rules in place and lets not have children in front seat and do not keep them in your lap however fond you are of your child.
CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS THE SAFEST AREA IN THE CAR.
MAKE CHILD SEATS, ADULT SEAT BELTS AND HELMETS CIMPULSORY AND MAKE SURE THE RULES ARE OBSERVED.
DRIVE SAFE
DO NOT DRIVE IN THE NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP
WHEN SLEEPY PULL UP REST AND THEN DRIVE
DO NOT DRIVE NONSTOP AND RISK YOUR LIFE
TALK TO THE DRIVER ON LONG HAULS, STRAIGHT ROADS MAKES DRIVERS SLEEPY
PREVENT ROAD ACCIDENTS, UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF SAFE DRIVING.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL OR TAKE ANY INTOXICATING DRUGS IF YOU ARE DRIVING
DO NOT QUARREL AND DRIVE
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