Latest Stats Highlight Pacific Child Injuries - Safekids

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Safekids Coalitions
Nelson Kids Says ‘Hi’ to
Their Newest Star
Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and Nelson Plunket have
added another colourful character to their child safety campaign—
Booster Rooster the lap puppet.
Created by a local craftsperson the lap puppet is designed to interact with
kids and deliver important child restraint messages. “We’re blown away
by how well the children respond to Booster Rooster”, said Margaret
Parfitt, Nelson City Council Road Safety Coordinator.
The puppet presentation is also supported by audio tapes, a script, a
large pull-up height chart, a song and information kits that go home to
parents.
“Booster Rooster was a perfect sidekick to BuckleBear, who explains
to kids that the back seat is the safest place to sit, as well as other safe
passenger behaviours,” Margaret added.
For more information about this resource, contact:
Margaret.Parfitt@ncc.govt.nz
Northland:
Car Safety Messages at the Ngapuhi Festival
The Plunket Mobile Bus Clinic was on tour for the Ngapuhi Festival 2010, providing valuable information on
child passenger safety to over 30,000 people.
Led by Plunket Northland Area Car Seat Manager Kylie Kelsen, a team of Safe2Go technicians and Plunket
Car Rental Scheme Staff provided Booster Rooster resources and ran a competition to win a booster seat.
“All people had to do was answer the phrase Until you’re ____cm tall you’re safer in a booster seat” (The
answer is 148cm!).
Manawatu Wanganui:
Car Safety an International Message
Plunket Car Rental Scheme Manager Veronica Fieldsend and her team
of coordinators provided a truly international car seat workshop, with
migrant parents from: Africa, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Egypt,
Holland, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Samoa, South
Africa, Tonga and Ukraine as their audience.
Each participant was taught how to install each type of car restraint and
encouraged to ask questions. “Language was a barrier, but we were able
to overcome this by making it a hands-on activity,” Veronica said.
It was also a good learning experience for the team. “We found out that
interactive learning is best, and the experience gave us an insight on the
extent to which many migrant parents believed it was OK for their kids to
travel in cars unrestrained,” Veronica said.
Public Health Services Promoter Nigel Fitzpatrick said they are also
running a public awareness/ media campaign targeting the wider
Manawatu/ Wanganui community “because non-compliance and
incorrectly installed car seats is an issue not limited to migrant parents.”
“Making sure the straps are tight, the seat fits the child and car, tether
straps are used, and they know where to get help—these are simple
messages that will help all parents ensure their children travel safe,” Nigel
said.
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Safekids News: June 2010 Issue No 49