I've just received my complimentary copy of Positive Parenting Magazine Vol.1 (2009) a few days ago and have just started reading it. One particular article really caught my attention.
The article goes;
****
The article goes;
****
BUCKLE UP AT THE BACK
From Jan'09, it is compulsory for all back-seat passengers to buckle up. This includes your child. Find out how you can keep your child safe at the back of the car.
By Dr Mary Joseph Marret, Consultant Pediatrician
Firstly, never allow children aged 12 years and below, including infants, to ride in the front seat! Front passengers airbags inflate at speed of up to 100km/h in a crash. This can injure or kill a child even in a slow-speed crash.
Secondly, child-safety seats at the back are a must. They are an important lifesaver. If a crash occurs, child safety seats helps:
-Restrain your child
-Prevent him from being thrown about inside or flung out of the car in an accident
-Absorb the impact of a crash
Fact
In a 70km/h crash, your child flung forward with a force 30-60 times his body weight. That is like falling from a 3-storey building!
Link: http://www.mypositiveparenting.org/articles/english/Caution!%20Child%20in%20car.htm
****
Now it's May 2009, It's sad to see that there are still many parents and caregivers out there who still does the opposite of everything that is stated in this article..
I still see them sitting in the front seat with their baby.. or worse, letting their toddler stand alone in the front seat without having someone hold them down... It breaks my heart everytime I see this.. Whether the car is a Ninja or an old crappy car.. I call this ignorance!!
Every parent loves their child so much.. that they would give everything to ensure that their child would get the best of what they can afford and probably more than what they can... But safety from an unpredictable car accident??
I spoke to my cousin today, she works with JPJ. I asked her if she has issued any summon to people not wearing their seat belts at the back seat or not putting any form of restrain (seat belts/baby car seats) on their kids.. And she said she has. The common response from the offender :
1. I have so many kids, dun have enough seat belt
2.My child dun like to wear seat belt
3.Let us decide for ourselves of how we take care of our child/children inside the car
4.We drive slow / more carefully when there's a child/children in the car so there's no need for seat belt
5.I'm strong enough to hold on to my child if there's an accident
I was fuming when I heard all these responses.. are these valid or lame excuses when it comes to a child's safety?? All I can say is, YES, every parent have the right to decide what's best for their child.. But, I do hope that they can decide wisely when I comes to the safety of their child when they're inside the car.
Think about it, if you are inside the car (either as a passenger or the driver) with your child and suddenly there's a collission (it may not be your fault, it could be the other car's fault);
1.Would you be able to ensure that your child doesn't get thrown out or flung about inside the car?? Your hand really that strong ar??
2.Would u be able to focus on keeping you and your child safe during the course of the collission?
3.Would u be thrown out of the car or flung about if you didn't have your seat belt on? If yes, what makes you think that your unrestrained child wouldn't?
EJECTED = DEATH
SEAT BELT/BABY CAR SEAT = NOT EJECTED = LIFE
From Jan'09, it is compulsory for all back-seat passengers to buckle up. This includes your child. Find out how you can keep your child safe at the back of the car.
By Dr Mary Joseph Marret, Consultant Pediatrician
Firstly, never allow children aged 12 years and below, including infants, to ride in the front seat! Front passengers airbags inflate at speed of up to 100km/h in a crash. This can injure or kill a child even in a slow-speed crash.
Secondly, child-safety seats at the back are a must. They are an important lifesaver. If a crash occurs, child safety seats helps:
-Restrain your child
-Prevent him from being thrown about inside or flung out of the car in an accident
-Absorb the impact of a crash
Fact
In a 70km/h crash, your child flung forward with a force 30-60 times his body weight. That is like falling from a 3-storey building!
Link: http://www.mypositiveparenting.org/articles/english/Caution!%20Child%20in%20car.htm
****
Now it's May 2009, It's sad to see that there are still many parents and caregivers out there who still does the opposite of everything that is stated in this article..
I still see them sitting in the front seat with their baby.. or worse, letting their toddler stand alone in the front seat without having someone hold them down... It breaks my heart everytime I see this.. Whether the car is a Ninja or an old crappy car.. I call this ignorance!!
Every parent loves their child so much.. that they would give everything to ensure that their child would get the best of what they can afford and probably more than what they can... But safety from an unpredictable car accident??
I spoke to my cousin today, she works with JPJ. I asked her if she has issued any summon to people not wearing their seat belts at the back seat or not putting any form of restrain (seat belts/baby car seats) on their kids.. And she said she has. The common response from the offender :
1. I have so many kids, dun have enough seat belt
2.My child dun like to wear seat belt
3.Let us decide for ourselves of how we take care of our child/children inside the car
4.We drive slow / more carefully when there's a child/children in the car so there's no need for seat belt
5.I'm strong enough to hold on to my child if there's an accident
I was fuming when I heard all these responses.. are these valid or lame excuses when it comes to a child's safety?? All I can say is, YES, every parent have the right to decide what's best for their child.. But, I do hope that they can decide wisely when I comes to the safety of their child when they're inside the car.
Think about it, if you are inside the car (either as a passenger or the driver) with your child and suddenly there's a collission (it may not be your fault, it could be the other car's fault);
1.Would you be able to ensure that your child doesn't get thrown out or flung about inside the car?? Your hand really that strong ar??
2.Would u be able to focus on keeping you and your child safe during the course of the collission?
3.Would u be thrown out of the car or flung about if you didn't have your seat belt on? If yes, what makes you think that your unrestrained child wouldn't?
EJECTED = DEATH
SEAT BELT/BABY CAR SEAT = NOT EJECTED = LIFE
No comments:
Post a Comment