February marked the start of a busy and exciting month, including delivery of the first free child car restraint fitting and safety check events as part of the ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ program, the training of 10 more accredited fitters through our Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitting course, and participation in the Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo, where we hosted the new ‘Safety Centre’. You can read more about these events below.
This month we also bring you a blog on the importance of swimming lessons, the latest product recalls and a research project from MUARC on the future of automated vehicles.
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Mornington Peninsula Shire Kids Travelling Safely Thanks to the First ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ Event
Mornington Peninsula families were provided with the peace of mind that their children are travelling as safely as possible, after having their child car restraints checked as part of the first ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ event held in Sorrento on Friday 21st of February.
The program is being delivered by Kidsafe Victoria in partnership with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, with the support of the State Government of Victoria. Local communities will be able to access free child car restraint fittings and safety checks across the state over the next four years.
Events have also been held in Langwarrin, Point Cook, Malvern, Eltham and Norlane during the first week of the program, providing parents and carers with valuable information and advice about regularly checking and adjusting and using their child car restraints and booster seats.
Incorrect use of child car restraints significantly increases the risk of injury in a crash. Anecdotal evidence suggests that over 70% of child car restraints and booster seats are incorrectly installed or used.
Visit the Safe Seats, Safe Kids website to register your interest or to search and book in to an event in your local area.
Swimming Lessons Can Do More Than Save Lives
Enrolling your child in swimming lessons should be a successful, happy and positive experience for children and parents alike. Introducing your child to swimming early on helps to familiarise them with water, teach them about water safety and provide them with essential life-saving skills they will have for their entire lives.
With summer coming to an end, the cooler weather can make it harder to get into a pair of bathers, especially when the icy winter mornings and cold, dark nights hit! However, interruption to swimming lessons can impact children’s ability and confidence, so it’s important not to let the cooler weather put you off.
There are many benefits and pleasure your child will get from the ability of being able to swim, so if you haven’t already, search for and have a discussion with your local swim school about the options that they have available.
Safety Success- Kidsafe on Show at the Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo
Did you visit us at the new ‘Safety Centre’ exhibit during the recent Melbourne Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo? We were thrilled to host the interactive space where we provided presentations and practical demonstrations on child car restraints and home safety, to thousands of parents and carers across the two days.
It was wonderful to see so many people attending the presentations and visiting our stand, to receive important safety information and ask our experts questions.
The Kidsafe ‘Safety Centre’ will be available at every Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo nationwide this year. If you missed out in Melbourne this time, don’t worry, the Expo is returning to Melbourne in mid October.
Kidsafe in the Media – Today Show
Dangers of Covering Prams in Hot Weather
Did your eagle eyes catch our segment on the TODAY Show during the Australian Open last month?
If you did you would have seen our General Manager Jason on the panel alerting parents that a covered pram can reach dangerous temperatures on hot days.
If you missed it click on the link below, as the results of the TODAY Show thermometer experiment may surprise you.
Clever Reminder for Drivers to Check the Back Seat
Leaving children unattended in a car – even for a short period of time – can be fatal. Clever Elly™ have developed a simple device that can be used in any car, which reminds the driver to check the back seat before exiting.
Enter the exclusive Kidsafe promotional code KIDSAFEVIC at the checkout to receive a FREE universal charge cable valued at $10.00 with your order.
**Kidsafe Victoria receives a percentage of every Clever Elly sold which assists with our child injury prevention campaigns, resources and programs. To order click on the buy button below and don’t forget the promotional code.
Product Recalls
Infasecure Child Car Restraint Holmbergs Buckles
There is a potential risk that the seat buckle screws can become loose or separate, preventing the buckle securing properly, with some of the Holmbregs buckles on InfaSecure child car restraints.
If you purchased an InfaSecure child restraint between August 2019 and February 2020, some batches may be affected. Affected buckles have the batch number of B18002, B18003, B19009 stamped on the back of them beneath the Holmbergs logo.
If you have a model with an affected buckle, please do not use this child restraint, even if your buckle appears to be secure. Visit the InfaSecure website to register and receive a replacement buckle along with repair instructions and instructional videos.
For further information, please click here.
Target Australia Pty Ltd — Safety Bed Rail
There is a potential risk that the fabric may tear, which can pose a fall hazard for children.
Customers should stop using the product and return it to a Target or Target Country store for a full refund.
For further information, please click here.
