Road injuries killing SA's children

Any parent will tell you: one of their biggest fears is their child dying in a car accident or being run over.

Now‚ a new study‚ the Second National Burden of Disease Study‚ has just been released by the Medical Research Council‚ and shows that these parental fears are not without valid cause.

In the 0 to 4-year age group‚ road injuries are amongst the top ten and sit in eighth position.

In the next age category‚ 5 to 14 years‚ it does a major jump to second position where it is listed as being responsible for just over one tenth of premature deaths.

The only thing killing more people in that age group is HIV which is responsible for just over half of all deaths.

According to a statement by the Automobile Association of South Africa‚ less than 7% of children in cars in South Africa are being buckled in.

“In many instances‚ children are sitting in the front passenger seat with no seatbelt on‚ are standing in the car while it is moving‚ or‚ at the very least‚ are not in a weight-‚ height-‚ and age-appropriate car seat‚” the statement‚ issued in November 2016‚ said.

Another major contributing factor is children who are on foot and are run over by vehicles.

Dr Michael Pravetz‚ who works in state hospitals emergency units in the Western Cape‚ describes how he once saw a toddler of 18 months brought in after being run over in her own drive way.

“Of all the many family members who came to the hospital and who were crying on seeing her little body in such a mangled state‚ the vast majority of them were completely drunk – as was the grandfather who had actually run her over.”

According to Childsafe‚ children from birth to 9 months (or who are less than 10kg) should be facing rearwards in a seat that is secured by a three-point adult seat belt.

“The baby should be held in the seat by a harness‚” it says.

Only from a weight of 10kg or more can a child seat face forwards.

Booster seats‚ which are light and versatile and are for children up to age 10‚ can only be secured with a three-point adult safety belt.

Once children have outgrown all of these‚ they can use a booster cushion.

“This will help position the seat belt and improve the child’s view from the car‚” according to Childsafe.

After age 15‚ road injuries continue to stalk the lives of South Africans.

In the 15 to 44 year age group‚ only HIV and interpersonal violence kill more people.

From age 45 to 59‚ road injury drops to seventh position‚ and only from age 60 onwards‚ it is no longer one of the top ten killers in our country.

- TMG Digital/The Times