Child restraints save lives!

Kia ora. I’m the local Community Constable. You will see me from time to time standing outside the school during drop off and pickups. My purpose is to educate parents and children around the correct use of child restraints. There are a few important things to remember when putting your child into their car seat:

• Rear facing infant restraints should ideally be used until they are at least two years old. They should never be placed in a front seat if there is an active airbag.
• Forward facing child restraints, the harness must fit snug and comfortable, the shoulder harness must always go over the shoulders and the seat itself must be fitted securely as per the manufacture’s guidelines
• Booster seats are safest when used in the back seat. The seatbelt should go over the child’s shoulder and not against the neck. Best practice recommends that children stay in a boaster seat until they are 148cm tall.
• If no longer in a booster, seatbelts must go over the shoulder, not behind the back. Children should be wearing the seatbelt the same way you wear yours. Bags should not be worn on the back with a seatbelt.
• What I have seen is a large number of cars pulling into the school where the child has taken their seatbelt off too early. Please remember that seatbelts stay on until the car has stopped and the child is ready to get out.

Please remind yourselves that your child is the most precious thing in your life and it’s your job to do everything you can to keep them safe, so please make sure each time you go out in the car that you’re doing everything you can to keep them secured nice and safe.

Ngā mihi nui

Constable Simon Fox.