If there is a child in the car

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Children in a car are carried by everyone who has children and a car. However, we still very rarely think about the fact that in the car, children require a special attitude towards themselves, like at home, on a walk, etc.

We perceive the car as our mini-house on wheels that spin and take us somewhere. We do not think that this house is threatened not only by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods or landslides, but also by many other dangers - accidents, drifts on a slippery road, reckless drivers and even wild animals. Therefore, it is not harmful to anyone to know at least the most elementary safety rules when transporting children, as well as the methods of educating young passengers to respect these rules.

Science has long proved that already in the prenatal state, the child, through the mother's body, perceives a lot of the world that is still unknown to him. Music, for example. Therefore, American fighters for the safety of motorists believe that respect for the rules of behavior in a car should be instilled in a child from the very first trip - from the maternity hospital home. By the way, in many American hospitals, the administration has the right to prohibit the transportation of a newborn home in a car that is not equipped with a special cradle.

And then you need to consistently educate the child in the habit of unconditionally following the rules of passenger behavior in the car. This is also important because time flies quickly, and you will not have time to look back, as your baby from the child seat changes into the wheel. And the habit of observing safety rules will remain with him for life.

Residents of highly motorized countries now do not even have a thought that a baby can be transported in a car without a special seat or chair. Especially after the Americans found that the use of this "car furniture" reduced child deaths in accidents by 71%. Now in the West, an incredible number of models of such seats are produced for children of different ages, weights and heights, for different cars and different wallets.

Our domestic manufacturers have not yet bothered with this, but there are imported options in big cities. There is also an opportunity to buy these seats from catalogs. Just be very careful when buying, choose exactly what your kid needs, taking into account his age, height and weight. And do not try to buy a seat according to the Russian custom "for growth."

The basic and immutable law of educating children to behave correctly in a car is as simple as an orange: never break these rules yourself. This applies not only to behavior in the car, but also on the street in general. If you cross the street anywhere, in principle, not paying attention to traffic signals, no kindergarten classes and school lessons on traffic rules will help your child. “Since mom (or dad) does this, then it’s not dangerous, they’re adults,” this is the child’s logic. Don't forget: your child is a monkey copying the behavior of adults, and your own first of all.

And now a few friendly tips "in the subject".

1. Never make exceptions to the rule. On a long trip, the child may get tired of the freedom limited by the seat belt, start to act up, and you may be tempted to unfasten the belt for a minute or two. Do not do that. Never. It is better to stop and give the child a chance to warm up.

2. Children are restless, and that's okay. Therefore, try to plan a long trip so that the child can get out of the car from time to time and change the environment, at least for a short time.

3. Do not start the car until everyone (!!!) in it is wearing seat belts. Only this way and not otherwise. Our "cartoon" that it is not necessary to wear a seat belt (as the Prosecutor General's Office and the Ministry of Justice decided last year) should not prevail over your common sense, especially if you are traveling with a child.

4. Lower the side windows no more than half. And in any case, do not allow not only your hand or palm to stick out, but even the tip of your finger. World statistics knows a lot of tragic examples when, because of this liberty, children were seriously injured and even died (today he stuck out his hand, and tomorrow - his head).

5. Never throw anything out of the car while driving. It all starts with an apple core, and ends with your child following you throwing food, toys and everything that comes to hand out the window. After all, someone is also following you, and the consequences of such "emissions" are unpredictable. Put road debris in a bag - throw it away in the parking lot.

6. Remember that the back seat (especially obliquely from the driver, where presidents and other VIPs always drive) is the safest. Try to get your child there if possible.

7. In summer, never leave your child unattended to play or sleep in the car, even if the engine is turned off and the windows are open. This advice applies primarily to residents of the southern regions, but also to northerners who come with children to the south. The fact is that the air temperature in the cabin, even when the car is standing with the windows open, does not drop at all, but, on the contrary, rises, and rather quickly. Even a five-minute stay in an overheated cabin can cause severe heatstroke, often leading to brain damage.

8. Never hold an unbelted child in your arms. It is very dangerous. In case of emergency braking, an adult will push the baby (and their weight is not comparable) with such force that only rare luck will save the child from injury. Especially if a passenger with a child is sitting in the front seat. Therefore, as mentioned above, try to put the child in the back seat. And also do not forget to buckle up.

Vlad Pitersky