As families prepare to travel this Easter, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is urging parents and caregivers to prioritise child safety by ensuring every child is properly restrained in a vehicle.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger says one simple action can prevent life-changing injuries.
“Before setting off on the road, every child needs to be strapped in. Children that are not buckled up are at serious risk of serious injury. Something as simple as a seatbelt can be the difference between an ordinary day and a life changed forever. I am asking every parent and caregiver: make it non-negotiable. Buckle up every child, every trip, every time.”
Recent data from the African Brain Child clinical research group in the Paediatric Neurosurgery Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital shows that 96% of children admitted to ICU with severe traumatic brain injuries sustained as passengers in motor vehicle accidents were not restrained.
Around 2 000 children are admitted annually to the hospital for suspected head injuries, with road traffic incidents responsible for the most serious cases. As a specialised referral centre for paediatric trauma, the hospital treats some of the most complex injury cases from across the province and beyond.
Associate Professor Ursula Rohlwink says the evidence is clear.
“We see the devastating impact of preventable injuries every day. The fact that 96 out of 100 children with severe head injuries in crashes were not restrained shows just how critical this behaviour is. Seatbelts and appropriate child restraints are one of the most effective ways to protect a child’s brain and their future.”
Keeping children safe on the roads requires collective responsibility across the health and safety ecosystem, from prevention efforts in communities and schools to emergency response teams and specialised medical care.
The Department is encouraging all road users to remember the importance of buckling up children, especially during busy holiday travel periods when traffic volumes increase.
Prevention takes only a second, but it can protect a lifetime.
Buckle up every child. Every trip. Every time.
