Buckle up for a safer ride

A YOUNG mother is so concerned children are being put at risk when they travel unrestrained in cars in the kingdom she has produced her own booklet to encourage parents to buckle them up.

When Aila Asu came to the kingdom with husband Antti, both aged 39, almost four years ago she was pregnant with her eldest son Lauri, who is now three.

She said: "We come from Finland where road safety has been a big issue for more than 20 years and, in fact, it is now illegal for children to be carried in a car without a seat belt or child seat.

"So when I came to Bahrain and saw children travelling around on their parents' laps or standing up in the back of the car, it was a real shock."

Lauri was born at the American Mission Hospital and as the new parents were leaving they met a Bahraini family also with a tiny baby.

After congratulations all round Aila was horrified to see the local couple prepare to travel with their child without any form of safety restraint.

Talking with the Bahraini mother she discovered the couple had been told child safety restraints were dangerous!

Aila, who also has a younger son, Joel, 18 months, said: "We explained that it's just the opposite and showed them how the baby seat worked and they were impressed. I was shocked that they had been told such seats were dangerous when this is just simply not true."

Aila decided to use her graphic design skills to do something to inform Bahrain's parents, both national and expat, about how dangerous it can be for children to travel without a proper seat belt or child seat.

Now she has produced a four-page booklet explaining how, when a car is in an accident, passengers have a much better chance of surviving unhurt if they are wearing the proper restraints.

Aila uses real life examples such as that of a car being hit from behind and a child sitting in the rear seat being flung into the back of the driver breaking his neck and a mother holding her baby on her lap when the car was hit at slow speed with the minimal impact forcing the baby from the mother's arms and onto the dashboard, killing him instantly.

The pamphlet states: 'All these deaths were avoidable. Why did the parents not make sure their children were safely restrained with a seatbelt?'

It goes on to offer detailed advice on the types of baby and child seats and booster cushions available, how they should be used and when it is safe for an older child to begin using regular seat belts.

And, in an uncompromising section which reflects Aila's passionate feelings on the issue, it states:

Be consistent - use seat belts on every journey and make sure your children and other passengers do too.

Be smart - some people dislike the idea of being restricted by a seatbelt. How restrictive do you think paralysis and or death as a result of a car accident would feel?

Be strong - safety is not negotiable. If your child refuses to buckle up, don't start the trip until they put on their seat belt. If they unbuckle while you are driving find a safe place to pull over until they buckle up again. Poor parenting skills are no excuse for breaking the law and risking your child's life.

Now Aila is hoping to find a sponsor to pay for printing the leaflet, though she has vowed to do it herself if necessary, and she would also like to get it translated into Arabic so it is easily accessible to all the island's parents.

Once printed Aila hopes the booklet will be made available to its target audience at maternity hospitals, schools, nurseries and shops.

If you can help contact Aila on 39102735 or email aila.asu@luukku.com.