Two thirds of child seats used incorrectly

This ranges from the seat not being right for the child based on their weight or their height, the seat being incompatible for the car it is used in, or fitted incorrectly due to instructions being misinterpreted.

Last year, car seat checks revealed that 86% of rear facing seats required some form of intervention or amendment, and 73% of forward facing seats also required attention.

The Road Safety Team is urging parents to get their car seats checked in support of Child Safety Week’s Small Steps to Safety campaign which runs from Monday 18 – Sunday 24 June.

The free fittings will only take around 10 minutes but could prevent severe injuries to a child involved in a car crash.

Free car seat checks

Oxfordshire County Council’s Road Safety Team will be at the following locations from 9.30am – 12pm throughout the week. No appointment is necessary:

• Monday 18 June - Witney - Sainsbury’s car park on Witan Way
• Tuesday 19 June - Wallingford – Waitrose’s car park on High Street
• Wednesday 20 June - Oxford - Sainsbury’s car park at Heyford Hill
• Thursday 21 June - Bicester -  Tesco’s car park on Pingle Drive

The team will offer free car seat checks and advice on the suitability and fitting, and firefighters will be on hand to advise on fire prevention in the home and smoke alarms.

Parents or carers who are not able to make it to one of the locations during Child Safety Week can contact Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue’s Road Safety Team. For advice or to arrange a free fitting check, please contact Julie Jones, Road Safety Officer for West and Cherwell, on 07769 915856 / 01865 321682, or email julie.jones@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Make a fire escape plan

As part of the Small Steps to Safety campaign, the Fire and Rescue Service is also urging parents to make a fire escape plan, so they know what to do if there is a fire and how to ensure their family is safe. Practise the escape plan on a regular basis using role play.

Children can also be encouraged to use the help of Drago, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s cartoon dragon, who teaches children about fire safety. Young people can fill in Drago’s escape planner to write down their escape routes for the whole family so it can be displayed where everyone can see it.

Test it Tuesday

Check smoke alarms are working and get into the ‘Test it Tuesday’ routine by making sure they are tested once a week. Parents can help to educate their child on fire safety by visiting Drago’s safety pages for advice and fun games for children to do.

Stuart Garner, Risk Reduction Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “By taking small steps to safety you could help to make your family safer. Fitting a smoke alarm and involving your children in weekly testing can assist in keeping them fire-aware and help give the vital seconds you may need to escape from a fire. It is really important that parents talk to their children about fire safety and what to do if the worst happens.”

Safety by the roadside

Parents are also being encouraged to be road safety role models for their children. When out walking, teach children to stop, look and listen and to always cross in a safe place. On a cycle ride, make sure the whole family are wearing cycle helmets.

As a driver or passenger, always wear a seatbelt. Make sure children are safely in the car and check their car seats. An incorrectly used car seat can reduce the level of protection offered to a child in a collision.

Mandy Rigault, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Team Leader, said: “Everything we learn and do from an early age develops our road safety behaviour. Remember to set children a good example whether you are out walking, in the car or cycling. Always follow the rules of the road.”

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, added: “These small steps are very simple and straightforward to follow, but could make a big difference to you and your family, and potentially save lives.”

For more safety advice, visit Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s 365 Alive initiative.