Local parents urged to check their child car restraints

Nov. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Kidsafe WA CEO Scott Phillips said parents could significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a car crash by using a correctly installed age and size appropriate child car restraint.

With legislation requiring all children up to  seven years old  to use an age and size appropriate restraint,  Mr Phillips urged local parents to come to the Checking Day to have their restraints checked for free.

“Kidsafe  aims to reduce  the number of children who die or are seriously injured every year unnecessarily. When it comes to passenger  safety, parents can help reduce the risk of injury to their child by ensuring that children are suitably restrained for their age and size on every trip.” he said.

“Car crashes  are a leading cause of child deaths in Australia.  At  previous checking days at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre around three quarters of the child car restraints we checked were either incorrectly fitted or incorrectly used, thereby reducing their effectiveness.”

SGIO Community and Sustainability Manager Megan Lupton said it was important every child restraint is fitted correctly.

“Simple mistakes such as having the restraint at the incorrect height or a twisted harness may lead to a child being injured.

“In partnership with Kidsafe, we’ve organised free child car restraint checking days so parents and carers can have a professional check of their restraints and drive away with the certainty that their children are seated safely,” said Ms Lupton.

Parents and carers are encouraged to attend the  free Kidsafe WA/SGIO  Child Car Restraint Checking Service at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre off Joondalup Drive between  9.30am and 1.30pm.  Directional signage will be placed along the street.

Kidsafe WA staff will check the installation of child restraints, show parents how to use the seats so that children are better protected, discuss size and age appropriateness and provide a written summary of the assessment.  

About SGIO
SGIO is part of Insurance Australia Group (IAG), an Australian-owned company which now operates in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Asia along with their partner companies SGIC & NRMA who are a leading provider of life insurance, travel insurance and car insurance.