Road traffic injuries are the 4th leading cause of injury in children and account for 14% of all injuries. In 2019, 771 children were treated for traffic related injuries at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Trauma Unit, down from 892 in 2018. Passenger injuries were 24% of traffic injuries. Of the child passengers treated, only 13% were in car seats.
Most children in South Africa travel without being properly buckled up either in child safety seats or seat belts. If a child is not properly buckled up while in a car, they have a great chance of dying in the event of a collision or crash. Child safety seats and safety belts, when installed and used correctly, can prevent injuries and save lives.
ChildSafe reminds parents and caregivers of the following:
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