Secure-a-kid
Belt in Edenvale

THE HISTORY OF SEAT BELTS Seat Belts are widely considered to be the most significant and important safety devise ever installed in motor cars and are considered to have been responsible for saving more lives and preventing more injuries than any other safety devise. Seat Belts were first used in 1930 when several US physicians equipped their own cars with lap belts and began urging motor manufacturers to install seat belts in all new cars. Whereas the seat belt is credited as having saved more lives and prevented more injuries than any other safety devise ever installed in cars it is known and acknowledged that standard SABS approved seat belts are. The net result of this is that when a child is strapped in with a seat belt that is TOO BIG FOR THEM the diagonal shoulder belt will invariably pass across the child’s neck or face where it is exceptionally dangerous to the neck. With the belt in this position the child will not have any upper body support with the result that in the event of a sudden stop or collision the child will jack knife from the waist as only the lap belt will give proper support. As a result of this research many jurisdictions, motor manufacturers and safety groups now recommend the use of additional custom designed ( after market ) devises (in conjunction with the standard fitted seat belts ) when strapping children in. Children less than 150 cm in height and younger than 12 years require suitable restraint systems for their protection in the event of an accident as the seat belts cannot be fitted correctly. When seated in the rear seat outboard seats, the child should be restrained using the lap/shoulder belt. If the shoulder belt portion slightly touches the child’s neck or face, try moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still touches their face or neck they may need to be returned to a child restraint system. After market devises are available from independent manufacturers which help pull the shoulder belt down and away from the child’s face or neck. Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. Seat Belt are designed and manufactured to suit adults and NOT CHILDREN. All that is required is that the shoulder belt MUST be prevented from passing across the child’s neck or face ! To re-position the child to suit the seat belt all that is required is to elevate the child so that the child’s head and shoulders will be at the same height as an adult’s head and shoulders so that shoulder belt does not cross or touch the child’s neck or face. To re-position the seat belt to suit the child all that is required is that the shoulder belt is re-directed so that it does not pass across or touch the child’s face or neck. A Booster seat is NOT ( in itself ) a safety belt and relies on the fitted seat belt in the car to. The purpose of a Booster Seat is simply to boost the height of the child so that the child’s head and shoulders will be at the same height as an adults head and shoulders so that the shoulder belt will across the center of the child’s shoulder and NOT ACROSS THE NECK OR FACE. When the child is strapped in the booster seat it is vital that the shoulder belt must not CROSS OR TOUCH THE CHILD'S NECK OR FACE ( ie. Correct and proper installation of the Booster Seat is vital as the fitted seat belt must now hold both the child and the booster seat in position. A Secure A Kid Harness is NOT ( in itself ) a safety belt and relies on the fitted seat belt in the car to secure the child in position. (1) The Secure A Kid Harness simply re-directs the shoulder seat belt so that it always passes across the center of the child’s shoulder and across the child’s chest ( ie. When the Secure A Kid Harness is in position the lap belt will hold the belt in the correct position across the hips of the child. When the seat belt is passed through the Secure A Kid Harness it will always be in the correct position and the child can strap themselves in ie.