Clinic gives caregivers info about securing kids safely in vehicles
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is working with several partners in Moose Jaw to provide caregivers and parents with more information about how to properly install children’s car seats. Since January, the institute has worked with Moose Jaw EMS, Moose Jaw Police Service, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) and trained car seat technicians to educate caregivers about what’s needed to ensure kids are properly secured. Free monthly clinics have been held — and will continue to be held throughout the year — at SGI’s claims centre on the corner of Fourth Avenue Northwest and High Street West. Parents, guardians or caregivers interested in learning more about securing their children safely in vehicles should watch the Moose Jaw Police Service’s Twitter account for when the next clinic will be held.
Anyone who transports kids — parents, grandparents, school officials or guardians — should attend the car seat clinic so specially trained technicians can help them with their specific needs, explained Travis Holeha, child traffic safety co-ordinator with Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. Among other things, the technicians will show caregivers how to install the seat.
“It’s important to hold something like this because unfortunately, we have children die in this province and in this country every year needlessly due to car collisions,” Holeha said. “Car seats, when used properly, reduce drastically the amount of death and injury.
“It’s the most likely piece of equipment that will save a child’s life and that you’ll buy for them. Having it done right is really important. They really do save lives.”
The biggest mistake parents make — and that technicians find — is children are placed in the wrong type of seat for their size, height and weight about 90 per cent of the time, said Holeha. If kids are placed in seats with harnesses, the harness is often too loose. Seats can also be poorly installed.
“There are so many different vehicles, there are so many different car seats, each child is different. The scenarios are endless. If it was one car seat, one child and one vehicle, I wouldn’t have a job. We wouldn’t have to be here,” he added. The car seat clinics began this year in Moose Jaw, with the goal to hold one clinic a month. Holeha noted there are 150 such clinics held across Saskatchewan regularly, so people should be able to attend one near them.
“If we can encourage people to come and get their seats checked out, almost everyone can use a little bit of help,” he added. Visit SGI’s website at www.sgi.sk.ca to find a clinic or car seat technician.