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MINIMISING  THE  RISK  OF  ACCIDEN TS

By observing safety measures you can often avoid accidents in cars and prevent serious injury to  passengers.

 

• Ensure that safety features built into your car (e.g. seat belts) are checked regularly  and used according to the manufacturer's guidelines. 
• Ensure that child locks fitted to the rear doors of your car are in operation. These prevent the doors from being opened from the inside, but allow someone to open the door from the outside. Child locks should be used until children are at least eight years old. 
• For safety, install a separate wide-angle mirror in your car so that you can observe children in the back of the car without having to turn round. 
• Check the car regularly for mechanical safety. In particular, check that the tires are properly inflated and are not showing signs of wear. 
• Carry a torch, a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and an empty fuel can in the car, in case of emergencies.

Securing your child

 

An unrestrained child can be killed by being thrown forwards in a car at a speed of just 8kph (5mph). Even on a short trip, secure your child in an appropriate seat or restraint.

 

• For babies less than a year old and weighing less than 10kg (211b 50z) you must use a rear-facing seat, secured with the car seat belt. In a forward-facing seat, sudden deceleration can cause the head of a small baby to be thrown forward violently, stretching the spinal cord by up to 5cm (2in). A baby should be kept rear-facing for as long as possible. 
• An infant-only seat has a harness that can be adjusted to fit your baby snugly. A convertible seat can be used later when your baby is bigger, but the slots for the shoulder and crotch straps are generally not as close to the child's body. 
• A baby should never in any circumstances be placed on the front seat of a car that has an airbag; an inflating airbag can crush a baby's skull. The baby should be placed in the back of the car in a rear-facing seat.
• A baby that is at least a year old and weighs 9-18kg (201b 80z-41Ib) can be placed in a forward-facing seat on the rear seat of the car and secured to the anchor points provided. 
• A child weighing 15-25kg (341b 80z­581b 40z) who is able to stay properly seated in a car can be secured on the rear seat using the car seat belt. Until about the age of eight, a booster seat is needed to raise the child so the seat belt fits across the lap and chest. 

Choosing  a car seat

 

The 'best' seat is one that is suited to your child's age and weight, is in good working condition and fits the seat of your car and your child comfortably.

 

• Ideally, you should buy a new car seat. Avoid buying second-hand unless you know the history of the seat. A second-hand seat should be no more than 10 years old and should never have been involved in a crash. Check the seat has all its parts and look for possible damage. Buckles and harness adjusters should work easily. 
• Most experts recommend a convertible seat equipped with a five point harness. When buying a convertible seat choose one with a maximum rear-facing weight that will allow your baby to face to the rear for as long as possible. 
• Make sure that the seat is fitted correctly.  You can either fit it yourself by carefully following the instructions, or get a reputable garage to fit it.

Garage safety

 

Children are often attracted to playing in a garage. But even when stationary, a car is a potential hazard and the garage often contains items that are dangerous in the hands of a child.

 

1.    Keep the garage locked and discourage your child from going in there.

 

2.    Keep the car locked when it is in the garage or standing in the drive

 

3.   Fuel is a potential fire hazard - always avoid keeping fuel stored in containers.  If this is necessary for any reason, use only clearly marked metal containers designed for the purpose.

 

4.    Place any fuel, chemicals and tools out of the reach of a child.

 

5.   When driving the car into or out of the garage, make sure that you know where your child is before starting the car.

 

      6.  Children have been known to climb into freezers when playing. If you keep a freezer in the garage, make sure that    it is kept locked at all times, even if it is switched off. The same advice applies to the boot of a car.

 

Safe driving

 

Taking precautions when driving reduces the chances of having an accident. It also reduces the possibility of injuries to children and other passengers if an accident does happen.

 

• Ensure that all passengers wear the seat belts provided. Children must be restrained in a manner appropriate to their age and size. Headrests for the driver and passengers must be properly positioned to reduce the possibility of neck injuries.
• Position rear-view mirrors and wing mirrors so that you have a clear view of the road behind you when driving. 
• Ensure that children under the age of 12 do not travel in seats that have either front airbags or side airbags. 
• Do not allow children to lie down in the car - they cannot be secured by seat belts in this position. 
• Never store loose items, such as books and stereo equipment, on the shelf at the back of the car. If you have to brake suddenly, these items could be thrown forward and cause injuries to your children. 
• On a long journey give children small toys and books to keep them occupied. You could also play games and listen to story tapes.

If you are involved in an accident or your car breaks down, you must continue to think of the safety of your passengers and yourself.

 

     1.  Switch off the engine and check to see what danger there is from other vehicles traveling on the road.

 

2.  If you have been involved in an accident, check to see if anyone in your car has any injuries and consider    giving appropriate first aid.

 

3.  If it is necessary and safe to do so, get your passengers out of the vehicle. Remember though that there are certain situations where it is safer to remain in the car. The hard shoulder of a motorway, for example, is potentially a very dangerous place and passengers should not be allowed to leave the car unless they can move to a safe place away from any traffic.

 

4.  If possible, place a warning triangle 50-100m (164-328ft) behind your car, where it is clearly visible.

 

5. Carry a mobile phone to call for help, or ask someone else to call.

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.