How to Deliver Kids to SafetyOctober 27, 2014

Children are unpredictable, thus the unexpected accidents happen. The aim of National Kidsafe Day is to reduce the number of unfortunate incidents.

Last year, a law stipulating that children up to seven years of age must travel with a forward-facing child safey seat with in-built harness was approved. Holly Fitzgerald, the SA chief executive officer of National Kidsafe Day, said the new guidelines allowed parents to access consistent car-safety advice for the first time.

"It's a resource that is very needed and it will enable all child safety groups to be on the same page and produce the same advice so it's clear for parents and carers," she said.

"Children do differ in terms of weight and height (so) parents need to be checking all the details on the child car restraint they have and make sure they're in an appropriate child car restraint for their age and size."

This is the first step. There's still a long way to go.

The places kids go to

The road is one of the many places where kids need adult supervision. As for the others, you must read the following:

Make sure the kids don't play in the driveway. Accidents do happen in the driveway, and the usual reason is the children think it's a playground. You must point out the difference to them, but there's a chance they'll forget it. Remind them again.

Be alert on the road. Be mindful when you're on the sidewalk or the street. Don't be distracted by what passes by. Don't answer any call from your mobile phone unless it's an emergency. Hold on to the kids, if not be close to them, when you cross the street.

Have fun with them at the playground. Slides and swings look like the right places for children, but there's no guarantee that the unexpected will happen. Play with them. There's nothing like having a good time with them.

Play time must be held in the carpet. Not that the child's bedroom is not safer, but it can be a challenge to watch them while doing other things. Do it in the living room, as you may never know if someone drops by. It will be better to open the telly. The carpet is not rough, which is good for the kids. (Chances of getting bumps or blisters are low.)

Pay attention on what is above. Children's curiosity prompts them to reach out on what is above them. If it's something on the table, then they'll climb on the chair. If it's on top of a cabinet, then they might open the drawers and step on it. (In some cases, they might reach out and pull something.) They can stumble, or worse, something heavy will fall on them. It may be fatal. Don't put anything on top that will attract their attention. If it's a cabinet, make sure that heavy things are placed on the bottom.

Have we miss anything? Let us know.

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