By: SUZY TURNER
Suzy Turner has lived in Portugal for 22 years and works as a freelance writer. As well as putting pen to paper for The Resident’s parenting section, she also contributes to the beauty and fashion columns.
USING A child safety seat in the car has become of utmost importance when transporting children in any vehicle.
In years gone by, letting your little ones bounce about in the back seat seemed to be the norm in Portugal, however the dangers of such behaviour led to a clampdown in the law, to ensure the safety of our kids.
Sadly, even with such laws in place there are still occasions when we see youngsters free to roam around in the back of the car, free from any kind of safety seat, seat belt or booster seat.
In the event of accidents, these kids would probably not survive… if they did, they could be so seriously injured that life would not be worth living. The other side of the coin is that if a child is loose in the back seat during an accident, they will be pushed forward with such force that they will likely kill whoever is sitting in the front.
Many children may argue that they don’t like being strapped in – whether they like it or not, we’re talking about their – and your – safety here.
Here are some helpful guidelines on how best to ensure your children’s safety when travelling:
The back seat is generally the safest place to be in the event of a crash. If your car has a passenger airbag, then it is essential that your child travels in the back, particularly if he/she is aged 12 or under – this cuts their risk of death by 36 per cent.
Infants should ride in rear facing seats until they are at least one year old, as they face a greater risk of spinal cord injury in a front facing car seat during a frontal crash.
Children should be in a car seat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seat belt. This is usually around eight years old or 4’ 9” tall.
Always read the vehicle owner’s manual and car seat manual thoroughly. They often contain specific information about the installation of car seats that might not be obvious.
Make sure the harness fits on your child snugly, the car seat fits snugly in the vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
Be wary of used car seats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.
When choosing a child car seat and if unsure as to the best one for you – choose the one that fits your child, your car and your budget.
And equally important, remember to ALWAYS wear your own seatbelt.
