Parents want to do everything they can to keep their kids safe, and today using a car seat is a no-brainer.
Kids grow fast and once that old car seat they used as an infant or toddler gets too snug, many parents are unsure of what to do next.
OPP Constable Mark Cloes reported that statistics show that only 34 per cent of children between the ages of 4 and 8 are properly secured. When used correctly, a booster seat provides 60 per cent more protection than a seatbelt alone. In a collision, children using seatbelts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer head injury.
Erin clinic
The East Wellington Community Services is hosting a car seat clinic on May 30 from 9 am to noon at the Erin Fire Department.
If it is anything like the clinic recently held in Fergus, it will fill quickly. Call Angela at EWCS to register, at 519-833-9696. A non perishable food items or cash donation will be accepted for the local food bank. The clinic is facilitated by Buckle Up Bears, trained volunteers, and run in co-operation with Wellington County OPP Auxiliary Unit.
Booster seats prevent injuries and save lives, and that is why they are the law in Ontario. Every child up to age 8 must be properly secured in an appropriate child car safety seat. If they are not, any caregiver – from a grandparent to a babysitter – could face a $110 fine and two demerit points. For a child safety seat to work, it must be used correctly. This means proper installation and choosing the right seat for your child, which depends on the child’s age, weight and height. Parents looking for help should visit www.ontario.ca/smartlove or contact their local public health unit. Cloes said, “All it takes is a moment to make sure your child’s car seat or booster seat is set up correctly, or to remind a passenger to buckle up – you could end up saving a life.”
