How to keep your most precious cargo safe

SAFE Seats, Safe Kids will be at the Phoenix College carpark next month to help guide community members on how to safely fit a child’s car seat.

The initiative is a collaboration between Kidsafe Victoria, Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, and the State Government, and research shows that 70 per cent of child car restraints are installed incorrectly.

Child car restraints general manager Kathy Taylor said it is important for people to know the correct way to install a child restraint.

“People need to understand how child restraints are fitted and work because not only do they need to be fitted to the vehicle they also need to adjust as the child grows,” she said.

“They need to understand how to adjust it and where the child’s shoulders should sit.”

At these fitting sessions, parents and carers are asked to attempt to install the car seat before coming along so they fitter can provide feedback.

“We really encourage everyone to try and install the car seat prior to coming,” said Ms Taylor.

“This is so they can feel their child restraint and understand how it works so that from there once they come to us the accredited fitter can they educate them on how to install the seat and where they may have gone wrong.”

It is hoped the experience will ensure parents and carers will be able to correctly reinstall the car seat in future if it ever needs to be removed.

“We encourage everyone to come a learn because going forward they will be able adjust and reinstall their child restraint with confidence,” said Ms Taylor.

The appointments will be held on Wednesday 11 October and to book a spot visit safeseatssafekids.com.au.