Car safety 5 - 9 Years
How big a problem is it?
Motor vehicle transport crashes (MVTCs) are a major cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among children. They are the second-leading cause of fatal injuries between 2011-2015.
Who does it affect?
Around half of all the non-fatal injuries are when children are occupants. It tends to affect all ages equally, but older kids aged 10-14 years are more likely to be injured or die. Māori children are at least three and a half times more likely to be injured than European children.
Top Tips
What’s best to keep your children safe when travelling on the road? A booster seat has been shown to reduce the risk of injury to a child by almost 60 per cent. To be safe, children need to be in a booster seat in the back seat of a car until they are 148cm tall. There’s a lot you can do to make sure your children stay safe in a vehicle.
For every car ride, make sure your child is in a booster seat that meets all current NZ Safety Standards. Also check that it is right for your child’s weight and height and fits your vehicle. If you’re unsure what you need, you can talk to an NZTA-certified child restraint technician.
It’s always safest for booster seats to be placed on the back seat. This is because during a crash a front seat air bag goes off at a high speed and can be dangerous to children.
Teach your children about the importance of buckling-up on every trip and make sure you set a good example, so they take responsibility for their own car safety when they are with friends. Wait till everyone has their own seat belt on before starting the car and make sure no one is sharing their seat belt.
Remember… "it’s safer to wait till you're 148cm".
First Aid
If your child has been in a MVTC they may have a bone fracture or a serious head injury and be in pain. If that's happened or for any of the following reasons, call 111 immediately. Do this if your child:
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There are also some things you can do straight away:
Fractures First Aid
Keep the injured arm or leg still. If you have someone who knows how to, use a splint to keep it still. You can support the injured arm or leg with a pillow or sling. Raise the arm or leg higher than the heart to help reduce swelling. Your child will need pain relief. If your child does not need an ambulance take them to the nearest hospital Emergency Department.
Brain injury/loss of consciousness First Aid
Follow Drs ABCD to start CPR
D Dangers? Check for any dangers to yourself such as electricity or traffic.
R Responsive? Check responsiveness by calling loudly and shaking the child's arm.
S Send for help. Dial 111 and confirm an ambulance is on its way. Use the appropriate emergency number in other countries.
A Airway. Open the airway by moving the head into a neutral position and lifting the chin. Do not tilt the head back too far.
B Breathing. Look and feel for movement of the lower chest and stomach area. Listen and feel for air coming from the nose or mouth.
C CPR. If the child is not breathing, start CPR - 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Put the child on a firm surface. Place 2 fingers of one hand (for a baby) or the heel of one hand (for a child) in the centre of the chest just below the nipples. Push down hard and fast 30 times in about 15 seconds (push down one-third of chest depth). Once you have completed 30 compressions (pushes) on the chest, breathe into the baby's mouth 2 times. Seal your lips around the baby's mouth and nose. For a child over 1, you may need to breathe into their mouth and pinch their nose closed. Gently puff into the child until you see their chest rise. Continue with the cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths until the ambulance arrives.
D Defibrillator. Attach defibrillator as soon as it is available and follow prompts
The CPR advice is from the KidsHealth website and a page containing the Basic Life Support Flow Chart. The Basic Life Support Flow Chart is developed by the New Zealand Resuscitation Council and Australian Resuscitation Council. For more information see www.nrc.org.nz
Links to Safekids’ resources
Child Passenger Safety Resources
Links to other organisations resources
New Zealand Child Car Restraint Regulations
New Zealand Transport Agency Child Restraint Factsheet