Tuesday 22 October 2019 is National Kidsafe Day!  For real-time updates about our National Kidsafe Day events, go to Kidsafe NSW Facebook page!

To celebrate, why not book a time to see our recently renovated Safety Demonstration House.   Kidsafe NSW has partnered with IKEA to show how to create a safer life at home!  IKEA donated  a significant number of products and valuable staff time to provide our Safety Demonstration House a much needed update. 

Thank you, IKEA, for all the hours of planning and work to help create a safer life at home!  We are truly proud to be collaborating with IKEA and of our new space!  We are thrilled to share our injury prevention messages with our community throughout NSW. 

Call today to schedule a time to take a tour of the Safety Demonstration House!

Pictured from left to right: Vicki Milne (Kidsafe NSW Road Safety Manager), Robert Young (Sales Leader: Bathrooms, Bath Textiles & Children’s IKEA), Christine Erskine (Kidsafe NSW Executive Officer), Donah Dewhurst (IKEA Country Risk & Compliance Manager), Lucia Chung (Interior Design Manager, IKEA Tempe) Shawn Little (Kidsafe NSW Playground Advisory Unit Officer)

The Safety Demonstration House renovation also had support from many other organisations and companies.  A huge thanks to The Gardenmakers who donated staff and resources for an extensive refurbishment of the outdoor playspace at the Safety Demonstration House!  Also, thanks to Timber Creations for donating their time and staff to give our 'backyard lizard' a polish and shine. This is one of the standout features in our Safety Demonstration playspace!

Thanks to Community Building Partnership (CBP) Program for the generous funding that provided all-weather outdoor signage, indoor painting and new flooring. Dulux Trade Centre Parramatta kindly provided all the paint.

Without these generous donations, the update could not have happened.  We are very proud of our updated House and outdoor playspace and send a hearty thank you to all of our supporters!

Airbnb is collaborating with Kidsafe Australia and other organisations to offer an Online Community Safety Hub, available on the Airbnb website.  Kidsafe Australia is excited to provide child injury information at a series of Airbnb safety workshops across the county in November.  North Bondi Surf Club will be hosting the Sydney event on Thursday 7 November 2019.

Kidsafe NSW  Executive Officer, Christine Erskine is pictured alongside participating partners, Crime Stoppers and Surf Life Saving Australia,  at the Sydney media launch. Find out more details and check out the safety hub here.  

Pictured: Airbnb- Brent Thomas (Centre) Crime Stoppers - Peter Price AM (CEO for NSW left); Kidsafe- Christine Erskine (EO for Kidsafe NSW right); North Bondi SLSA volunteer lifeguards 

Important research into child pedestrian safety!  Are you a parent or carer of primary school children?  Do you think your children are safe pedestrians?

Statistics show that 186,300 children died from road traffic related incidents across the world in 2012 and 38% of these deaths were child pedestrians.

Help us minimise these statistics by participating in a quick 15-minute survey created for a University of Wollongong study that is part of a global research project on child pedestrian safety.

Please click here to participate in the survey

Public comment now open!  NeuRA is seeking your feedback for the Best Practice Guidelines for the Safe Restraint of Children Travelling in Motor Vehicles (2019 Update) until 1 November 2019.  Click on this link to download the draft www.neura.edu.au/crs-guidelines/

The following draft Standards have been released for public comment:

• AS 4685.1 Playground equipment and surfacing, Part 1: General safety requirements and test methods
• AS 16630 Permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment - Safety requirements and test methods

If you would like to contribute to the development of the draft Standard(s), the public can comment on both Standards by the 24 October 2019 refer to link below:

https://sapc.standards.org.au/sapc/public/listOpenCommentingPublication.action

Spring is here!  Time to get outside and play.  Check out this great article from The University of Queensland about how to get your kids more active with the help of backyard play equipment. 

Maintaining a safe outdoor environment is key to keeping children healthy. Nearly half of backyard injuries are due to falls. Other causes include  cuts, poisons, scalds and burns, choking, bites and drowning or near-drowning in backyard pools.

Follow these top tips to keep children safe when playing in the backyard:

• Keep the backyard clear from general rubbish and remove any trip hazards
• Position play equipment in an area that is shaded, easily supervised and accessible
• Place play equipment away from the driveway, pool or other hazards
• Ensure all play equipment  is appropriate  for  a child’s age and size
• Supervise young children on and around play equipment at all times.

For more information see Kidsafe NSW’s Safe Play for Backyards.

Do you know about the changes to the 40km/h rule?  There was a trialling of a road rule requiring vehicles to slow down to 40k/m when passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights.  The trial is over and as of 26 September 2019 an expanded rule has come into force. The rule now includes stationary tow truck and breakdown assistance vehicles, in addition to emergency vehicles. On higher speed roads (with limit of 90km/h or more), you must slow down to a speed that is reasonable for the circumstances. On lower speed roads (with limit of 80km/h or less), you must slow to 40km/h when passing these stationary vehicles with flashing lights.

These important changes help to protect stranded motorists and those who are assisting them with their vehicles.  Remember to Slow Down, Move Over and Give Space. For more information, visit Transport for NSW.

Image source: Transport for NSW

Did you know that in February 2018, seven new school zone traffic offences were rolled out in NSW ? 

School zone days include school development days, also known as student-free days, because some students may attend their school on these days.

The NSW Department of Education website has more information on school term dates and detailed data on school locations.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/calendars

Most school zones operate from 8 to 9.30am and from 2.30 to 4pm. However, there are a small number of non-standard school zone times in NSW, which are identified by red/orange school zone signs showing the times when school zone flashing lights operate

The offences include the following:

1. Stopping in intersection of a school zone is a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.

2. Stop within 20m of intersection (traffic lights) in a school zone is a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.

3. Stop within 10m of intersection (no traffic lights) in a school zone is a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.

4. Stop near bicycle crossing lights in a school zone is a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.

5. Obstruct access to ramp/path/passageway in a school zone is a penalty of $344 and 2 demerit points.

6. Not parallel park in the direction of travel in a school zone is a $344 fine and 2 demerit points.

7. Parallel park close to dividing line in a school zone is a $344 fine and 2 demerit points.

For additional information about road safety and school zones visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/flashinglights/index.html

Content and image source: NSW Department of Education

Happy Halloween!  If you are heading out with your family to trick or treat be sure look out before you step out, hold your child’s hand or hold them close when in or near traffic or in large crowds.  If you are driving, please take extra care.

For more top tips on #keepingkidsafe while walking go to www.kidsafensw.org/road-safety/pedestrian-safety/

Join us at Westmead for this one-day course to gain knowledge and skills to appropriately select, install and adjust child restraints into vehicles

RSCICR301A Provide information and advice on correct child car restraints is tailor made for those transporting children on a regular basis, including child care workers, family day care workers, intervention support organisations, car dealers and hire car operators.

While this course is comprehensive and has a hands-on component, it will not certify you to become a child car seat fitter as part of the RMS Authorised Restraint Fitters network. 

Our next training is on  Monday 18 November 2019 at Westmead. The cost of the one-day course is $330 (GSTinclusive) per person.   For enrolment details, please click here

Interested in this course as onsite training for groups of about 10?  Please let us know, we are happy to provide a quote!

Door finger guards, from Safe Doors Australia, prevent children's fingers and hands getting caught in the gap along the hinged side of a door as it opens and closes.

These can be installed on virtually any hinged door. It easily detaches and can be reinstalled if a door requires maintenance to the hinges.

Length of the door finger guard is 2150mm. This can be installed using either screws or strong double sided tapes that can easily be installed and removed.

Door finger guards can be ordered in white, grey or black. Other colours are available, click here to order or contact the Kidsafe NSW Office for more details on 02 9845 0899.