A correctly fitted child car restraint, appropriate for the child’s age and weight, can reduce the risk of serious injury or death.
CHILD CAR RESTRAINTS
CHOOSING A CHILD RESTRAINT
When choosing a restraint you need to ensure the restraint suits your child, car and individual needs. A correctly fitted child car restraint, appropriate for the child’s age and weight, can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in road crashes by up to 70%.
All child restraints sold in Australia must meet the strict requirements of the Australian Standard - AS 1754 covering the materials, design, construction, performance, testing and labelling of child restraints.
Which restraint do I use?
All child restraints are tested to mass limits therefore weight and height are the most important factors when determining which restraint to use.
| CHILD | CHILD RESTRAINT |
|---|---|
| Infants | Use either |
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| Toddlers - Young children | Use either |
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| Pre-primary aged children and older | Use Booster seat |
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I have a restraint that is ten years old
It is not recommended that a child restraint be used after ten years of age because:
- Restraints older than ten years cannot be guaranteed to perform as they were originally intended
- The Australian Standards have been improved since 1991 and updated in 1995, 2000 and 2004. Older restraints will not meet new improved design features.
Second Hand Restraints
It is illegal to sell any restraint that does not comply with AS 1754.
What to look for in second-hand restraints:
- Australian Standard sticker AS/NZS 1754.
- An instruction booklet.
- Complete set of fittings.
- Check the history of the restraint. Ask the previous owner if the restraint has been in a car crash.
- . Check the date stamped in the plastic mould on the back of the restraint. Do not use if the restraint is older than ten years.
- . Look for stress marks on the plastic mould. These appear like white lines (the same lines you get if you twist a plastic milk bottle). Do not use if there are a lot of stress lines, splits, cracks or broken areas.
- Check harnessing and tethering for small frays or tears. A tear or fray as small as 5 mm is a weak point in the harnessing.
- Check tethering for mould. Little black spots indicate mould is rotting the webbing at these points.
In case of an accident
If a restraint has been involved in a severe crash where the main body structure of the car is damaged, the child restraint should be destroyed even if there is no obvious damage. Inform your car insurer of the type and number of child restraints used in your vehicle to ensure compensation.
The information above was provided by Kidsafe Western Australia (Inc).
For more information on child car restraints, and advice on all aspects of child restraint hiring and fitting, contact Kidsafe Queensland on (07) 3854 1829 or go to www.kidsafe.com.au. Kidsafe Queensland also operates a child restraint hire service (including baby capsules), and a child restraint checking and fitting service, in Brisbane.
QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE - BABY CAPSULE SERVICE
Queensland Ambulance Service has fully trained staff available to fit capsules so that your baby is safe and comfortable. By not properly restraining your child when travelling, you may be breaking the law and putting your child at risk.
Your baby’s capsule will only be suitable for about six months, so buying one is an expensive outlay. The Queensland Ambulance Service baby capsule hire service is a simple and more economical alternative. One fee includes fitting, cleaning and GST.
Baby capsule hire can be as short as one week to as long as six months. If you need more than one capsule, this can also be arranged. No matter what type of vehicle you have, Queensland Ambulance Service can ensure that your infant or child restraint fits perfectly.
To obtain further information or to book a capsule and fitting, simply call 1300 369 003.
The information above was provided by the Queensland Ambulance Service.
