Carseat cheaper than a coffin

SIMON WATTS

BUCKLE UP: Otara Health has affordable carseat rentals and booster seats for the community – so there’s no excuse not to have one for your child says Kathy Williams-Brown.

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Kathy Williams-Brown has an important message for the community: It's cheaper to buy a carseat than it is to buy a casket.

Otara Health's injury prevention team leader works at carseat restraint checkpoints with the police and is shocked that some parents still don't have a proper carseat for their child.

She's come across a woman who put her unrestrained newborn under her skirt to try to hide it from the police.

While the law requires only children five and under to be in a carseat, studies have shown booster seats can reduce injuries to five to nine-year-olds by 52 percent.

Children should be in booster seats until they are 12 or they reach 148cm tall.

Mrs Williams-Brown says most people she stops at checkpoints think their older children don't need to be restrained because of the law.

She wants to let the people know that's not the case – and several community groups are pushing for a law change.

Otara Health is giving the community no excuse not to have proper child carseats. Generous funding means the centre is able to sell and hire booster seats and carseats at reduced prices. And Mrs Williams-Brown says she can help families with lay-by options.

"I know times are hard, that's why Otara Health is here.

"For us it's about letting the community know we've got these seats available to them."

It also has a mechanic who can install the anchor belts. Full booster seats are priced from $60, half boosters from $40 and baby capsules can be hired or cost from $125.

- © Fairfax NZ News