Wheel Well is not only on a mission to educate parents about the importance of car seats, the organisation also replenishes old donated car seats and gives them to those who need them. With Easter break approaching parents need to be alert and aware.
Founder of the organisation, Peggie Mars is heavily invested in the proper education about car seats and vehemently states reasons why it is so important for your child to be strapped into one when travelling in a car. “By law, children under three years old need a car seat” said Mars. “It’s not about how old the child is either, children only fully develop at the age of fourteen.”
It is because of this reason that Mars said that children with a height below 1.5m need a car seat or a booster seat. She divulged that a child’s skeleton only really forms at fourteen years and it’s due to this fact, that should they be involved in an accident and not be in a car seat, they would suffer extensive internal injuries that could lead to the worst happening.
“Parents should lose the idea that a car seat is some form of accessory, it’s not, it’s there to save you child’s life,” said Mars.
How does the Brightwater Commons’ based organisation work? It is simple really, all one has to do is donate an old car seat that their child has outgrown. That car seat would then be assessed and then either be replenished or recycled. Wheel Well also accepts donations of any sort for child safety. If you are a parent in need of a car seat, all you need to do is pop into the store and with a small donation and receive a car seat.
Mars also explained that for the better part, car seats made before 2012 are not safe to use anymore. “Parents can come in and have their car seats assessed for safety and learn more about car seats,” said Mars.
Details: Wheel Well, peggie@wheelwell.co.za or 072 385 7121 / 073 393 7356
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