Senior Constable Deb Hann – On the Beat
This week I am focusing on a child safety matters.
Last Thursday, I joined in a car seat clinic and associated check point held at Cambridge Marae in Pope Terrace. It was funded by Waipā District Council and supported by Baby on the Move and the police.
We had a good response from the community, with many taking up the offer of a free check of their child car seat and its installation. The team were there for two hours. During that time 24 car seats were checked – 20 were found to be installed incorrectly and required adjustments – all of which were done on site. Six people received free accessories to correct their car seat installation, funded by the district council. Four car seats had no installation faults. Key fixes that I saw happening were using isofix attachment points when available and if using the seat belt to secure the seat, ensuring a locking clip to keep the belt tight.
When installed correctly, there should be no movement at the base when the car seat is wiggled. Ensure also that straps are at the correct shoulder height for the child’s size. Car seats should be kept rear facing as long as possible for maximum safety but at least until the child is two years old. A back seat car mirror is a great way of keeping your child entertained when facing backwards.
With summer upon us, water safety is another child safety essential – especially for our smaller community members. Keep your children safe around water by providing them with water safety awareness from an early age. Ensure that when they are in or near the water, you or another responsible adult supervise them closely. That means keeping young children within arm’s reach. Please also remove distractions (such as a cell phone) when supervising children, as a moment’s inattention can be fatal.
If you have a swimming pool, ensure it is fenced to council requirements. Any pool over 40cm deep (not including a home bath) requires fencing to prevent death or injury, especially to children under 5 years old. A drowning can occur in the smallest amount of water and it only takes a moment for a child to drown – babies and toddlers are most vulnerable. If you don’t have a first aid certificate, consider getting training so if the worst happens, you know how to do CPR. Have a first aid kit readily accessible. If an incident occurs, immediately call Ambulance on 111. When out and about don’t forget to slip, slop, slap on the sunscreen too. Have a good week and stay safe.
