Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe in a Car

by

03 May 2016

Kids

inner-img

Whether they love it or not, kids can’t really bypass traveling in a car. Commuting to school, going on a road trip or accompanying parents to the grandma’s house, the list is endless. Unfortunately, not all these trips have a happy ending. Despite following all car seat rules and safe driving tips, car accidents remain one of the leading causes of concern in the US. In fact, reports say motor vehicle injuries remain the leading cause of death among children in the United States. According to the car crash doctors, at least twelve children under the age of ten are killed or injured as passing. Here are more tips to keep your kids safe in a car.

Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe in a Car:

There are some very clear dos and don’ts while driving with a child on-board. These include:

  • Children under the age of three are not allowed to travel in a car without proper arrangements like an age appropriate car seat
  • Children should have proper seatbelts, according to their height. This isn’t the one used by the adults
  • Children under the age of twelve and below 135cm in height should use a child restraint

According to a 2013 report, almost 638 children of twelve years and below died in motor vehicle crashes and more than 1, 27,250 were injured. 38 percent of these deaths were due to no seatbelts. It has also been found that more than 6, 18,000 children from in the age bracket 0-12 travel in a car without any proper child safety seat. This clearly explains why car crashes are one of the leading causes of death among children.

Chances of Risk Reduction:

  • Several studies and reports including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic safety facts, 2013 data have a few startling revelations. Use these as pointers to minimize the risk for your kid: Proper car seats reduce death percentage among infants and toddlers by 71 and 54 percent respectively
  • When compared to the seatbelts, booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury for children between the age of four and eight by 45 percent
  • As for older children, seatbelts reduce the percentage of car crash injuries and death by almost half

Car Seat Arrangement:

0-2 years – Kids within this age group should be properly buckled up in a rear-facing position at the backseat. This place should be retained until they have reached the upper weight or height limits of the particular seat. You need to check the car manuals to know the weight and height limits.

2-5 years – Once your children outgrow the rear-facing seats, they must be buckled in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the age of five and cross the allotted weight limit.

5+ — Beyond the age of five, make sure your child fits the allotted seat in the car along with the seatbelt. In case they have outgrown it, get a booster seat with a proper seatbelt that fits them properly. The lap belt should be properly buckled up across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt must cross the chest and not the neck.

Once the seatbelt of the car fits the child properly, there is no need to use a booster seat. Although your kid can travel in the front seat, try to avoid it for reasons of safety. Instead, keep them properly buckled in the backseat. Also, do not buy secondhand car seats for your kids because that could be unsafe. It is quite surprising that most of the accidents occur in short journeys. Also, no matter how minor an injury your kid sustains in a car crash, take him immediately to a car crash doctor and treat him thoroughly. A little bit of caution can save the life of your child. So drive carefully!

Read Also:

Lucia Patterson is the woman behind TheLegalGuides, a blog solely focused on legal guides, tips, and advice. Lucia loves essay writing and blogs at EssayWritingGuides from her college days.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Should You Send Your Child with Autism to a Regular Summer Camp?

Summer camp can be a meaningful experience for any child, full of opportunities for social and emotional growth, independence and exciting new activities.  Any good camp is designed to provide all of these and more for children, but how do you determine whether a program is prepared to help your child with autism access the benefits and have a good time?  When should you choose a specialty camp and when is “regular” camp appropriate for your child? Most parents wish for their child to fit in and enjoy being in typical social environments.  We would prefer them to be in regular classes, normal extracurricular activities and the same camps as their peers.  But which is more important, the “fitting in” part of the “typical” part?  Anxiety decreases and learning increases when a person feels feel comfortable, normal and accepted in a setting.  If this can be achieved in a regular camp, that may be an appropriate choice for your child.  If, however, they feel like the odd person out, like they can’t catch up or don’t “get it” like their peers, it could be detrimental to their self-esteem. A regular summer camp can be a good choice if the staff is trained in neurological and developmental differences and how to support the unique needs of a child with autism, such as allowing greater time for transitions, chunking tasks, and offering frequent downtime.  A child with a lot of social skills training who has a good set of coping strategies and ability to self-advocate may feel comfortable navigating a typical camp setting.  In this case, encourage the director to emphasize an appreciation for differences at least within your child’s cabin, and preferably the whole camp. For many children with autism, a camp designed especially for them is the better choice.  Staff is well-trained in neuro-development, common autism characteristics, and strategies for guiding their campers through a positive experience.  They know they will need to help with friendship-making skills, independent living routines, and reducing anxiety through pre-processing activities.  More than that, when campers are surrounded by peers who are “like them”, they can finally relax in a place where they feel normal.  Everyone is struggling with some set of social skills, everyone needs a little extra time to process new information, and almost everyone has a sensory issue.  For most children, this is a relief, not a punishment. Parents will sometimes ask us at Talisman Summer Camp how their children can learn social skills if everyone is struggling.  But each of our campers has different strengths and weaknesses.  One may be an excellent conversationalist with no sense of personal space; another might be very respectful of space but have a hard time changing from one activity to another; a third may totally “get” sarcasm and only eat beige foods.  They all have strengths they can model for each other, and it is also perfectly normal to talk about these things in their group, so they can grow together.  In this way, no one camper is always the learner.  And the staff are there to provide guidance in all areas. Remember when assessing whether to send your child with autism to a regular or specialty camp to keep in mind where they will feel comfortable enough to relax and have fun.  Ask many questions of each camp, keep your child’s wellbeing central and you will be able to make a good choice for them. Read Also: 5 Important Things You Need To Bring Camping Jaisalmer Camel Safari: Take The View Through Another Way

READ MOREDetails
Parental Lifestyle

How Does Children’s Health Impact Parental Lifestyle?

The essence of parenthood is providing care and support for children as they grow and develop. This means that parents' lives are inextricably linked with their children's health and well-being. Children are essential to the family, and their health is a priority. When children are healthy, it can positively impact the parental lifestyle. Families with healthy children have less stress and anxiety and spend more time together as a family unit, enjoying activities and quality time. But does it have an impact the other way around? It is interesting to note that when parents are healthier, their children also tend to be healthier. This may be because parents in good health can model healthy behaviors for their children. They can also provide a stable and loving home environment, which is essential for children's development. When parents are healthy and happy, their children tend to be healthier and more comfortable. So, while children's health can positively impact parental lifestyle, the reverse is also true. Read on to explore more. 7 Ways Children's Health Impact Parental Lifestyle 1. Lower stress levels The health quality of children can have a significant impact on parental stress levels. When children are unwell, parents often worry about their child's health and well-being. And this can also lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety. But when children are healthy, parents tend to worry less. This can lead to lower stress and anxiety levels and a more positive outlook on life. However, in some circumstances, when a child is seriously ill or has a chronic condition, it can cause a distressing time for any parent. For instance, parents of children with cancer or a birth injury. In these cases, parents may feel overwhelmed and stressed trying to care for their children and manage their emotions. In case of the negligence of a health provider that led to the child's condition, parents may also experience feelings of anger and betrayal. You might contact the Birth Injury Justice Center for a consultation if your child was injured during the birthing process. 2. Improved mental health We often ignore our mental health until we reach a breaking point. However, taking care of our mental health is essential, just like our physical health. The state of our mental health can significantly impact every aspect of our lives, including our relationships, work performance, and physical health. When parents are mentally healthy, they can provide a stable and supportive home environment for their children. And are also more likely to model healthy behaviors for their children. Conversely, when parents struggle with their mental health, it can negatively impact their children. This is because children rely on their parents for emotional support and stability. 3. More time for family One of the most significant impacts of children's health on parental lifestyle is that it can free up more time for family. When children are unwell, parents sometimes take time off work to care for them, leading to lost income and increased stress levels. Families create a strong bond when they spend time together. And in the fast-paced world we live in today, it can be hard to find time to just be together as a family. You might have to plan your time around work, school, and extracurricular activities. Spending time together also improves family relationships and a stronger bond between family members. 4. Improved physical health The state of our physical health can have a significant impact on our lives. Sometimes we may not feel our best, but we push through and carry on with whatever we need to do. However, when our physical health deteriorates, it can significantly impact our quality of life. This is because our physical health can impact our mental health, energy levels, and ability to do the things we enjoy. 5. Greater life satisfaction Imagine if you could wave a magic wand and make one change in your life. What would it be? For many people, the answer is that they would like to spend more time with their family. This is because spending time with loved ones is one of the essential things in life. When we feel close to our family and friends, we are more likely to feel happy and fulfilled. Of course, this is not always possible. We all have busy lives, and sometimes it can be hard to find the time just to relax and enjoy each other's company. However, when we do have the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones, it can be a priceless experience. 6. An increased sense of purpose When we become parents, our lives change in many ways. One of the most significant changes is that we suddenly have a new sense of purpose. We no longer live just for ourselves. We now have someone else to care for and protect. This can be a daunting responsibility, but it can also be gratifying. Knowing that our children are happy and healthy gives us a great sense of satisfaction. 7. Greater life satisfaction When our children are healthy, we are more likely to feel satisfied with our lives. This is because we know we are doing everything we can to give our children the best possible start. We also feel a sense of pride when we see our children achieving their goals. Seeing our children succeed is one of the most rewarding experiences a parent can have. Most importantly, when our children are healthy, we know we are making a difference in their lives. We are giving them the gift of health and happiness, which is the most important thing we can provide. Conclusion Children's health has a significant impact on parental lifestyle. When our children are healthy, we feel more blessed and more satisfied with our lives. However, when our children are unwell, it can be difficult for us. We may have to take time off work to care for them and feel anxious and stressed. But no matter what challenges we face, we always remember that our children's health is the most important thing. And when our children are healthy, we can lead happy and fulfilling lives. Additionals: Practical Ways To Help Your Elderly Parents3 Ways Parents Can Safeguard their Household’s Online SafetyIs it Possible for Single Individuals to Become Foster Parents?4 Characteristics To Look For When Choosing The Best Burial Insurance For Parents

READ MOREDetails
Children’s Parties

Ways to Improve Children’s Parties

Children’s birthday parties have become a really lucrative and expansive industry. Compared to just a few decades ago, the parties have become more elaborate and more expensive. However, the children don’t seem to mind the complexity; what’s more, they seem to be enjoying all the attention and the choice they have. So, if you are looking for ideas on how to really improve the birthday party for your child, consider these tips from children entertainment experts at Jump 4 Adan share some of the most successful moves you can make for your child’s party. Venue: Well, the first thing you need to decide is the venue. This decision is going to influence a lot of the decisions you will make after that. The first, and usually the simplest idea is to lease a playhouse for a few hours and leave everything to the professional entertainers and caregivers. However, even though it is an easy option, doesn’t mean that it is the best one. You don’t have a lot of input about how the party is going to go on. Another option is to have the party at your own home. This option gives you a lot of freedom to be creative and tailor the party to your child’s liking. However, that does leave you with a huge mess to clean after the fact. Finally, if the weather serves you well, you may be able to have the whole event outdoors. This might just be the best option, because you still retain as much control as possible and it simplifies the clean-up process. Entertainment: When it comes to entertainment, there are numerous options and different directions you can take. If you are hosting an indoor party, a film or a cartoon screening might be a great centerpiece event for a birthday party. Alternatively, you can have a make-your-own cupcake event with different toppings. Be prepared for some serious mess, but the kids will surely like it. However, if you are hosting an outdoor event, your options are much more diverse and depending on your child’s preferences, you can go for different styles. For instance, in San Diego bouncy castles are very popular. The weather is almost always nice, which makes it possible to really go for it. And what kid doesn’t like a bouncy castle. There are countless options in terms of design, sizes, and shapes but you can certainly find something that appeals to your child. Piñatas are almost as popular. These papier-mâché toys filled with candy or something else are both an interesting snack and a fun game to play. Finally, sports and similar games are a staple and a classic which should never be left out. Snacks and Drinks: Gone are the days when you could get by with some generic store-bought snacks and drinks. First of all, allergies are on the rise in children and you need to be careful of many different ingredients in store-bought products. Nut allergy is still the most common one, but there are other ones you need to be careful of, like eggs and gluten. However, the problems with snacks don’t end there, because both children and their parents might have some specific preferences which are not allergy-related. Going gluten-free or vegetarian/vegan is much more common nowadays, and you as a host need to provide those guests what they expect. Planning the best birthday party for your child simply cannot be done without consultations with your child, so make sure that whatever you have planned for them is what they actually want. Read Also: Aerialist For Hire: An Outstanding Performance Experience Baby Shower Party: What To Expect

READ MOREDetails