KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) has launched a new program to help parents of newborns keep their babies safe on the road.
The KKH Newborn Car Seat Programme allows parents to borrow a car seat for free during their baby’s first year. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of serious injuries caused by road traffic accidents.
Every year, KKH treats around 400 children injured in road accidents, with many of the injuries being severe when a child is not using a proper car seat, according to Dr Ronald Tan, senior consultant at KKH’s department of emergency medicine. He added that these injuries can be prevented with the right safety precautions, making it crucial for parents to understand the importance of car seats.
Under the KKH Newborn Car Seat Programme, parents will be invited to register their interest to loan a complimentary car seat for their baby’s first year during their antenatal checkup.
Alternatively, they can also sign up at for.sg/buckleupbaby.
KKH will arrange for parents to pick up the car seat by their third trimester, allowing time to familiarize themselves with it before their baby arrives. Educational video resources and support on proper installation and use of the car seat will also be provided.
The loaned car seat must be returned when the child turns one.
The programme, supported by the Traffic Police and in partnership with Komoco Motors and Mothercare, is expected to benefit about 300 newborns in the first year.
