This is the time of year that I call the “Shopping Season”. More people are out at the malls and grocery stores than any other time of the year. This is the time of year for more accidents to occur. The reason: more people, more traffic, more stress, equals increased danger and more accidents. Knowing there are more cars driving around parking lots I would like to remind parents to hold your child’s hand. It only takes a second…
We have all seen it, most of us have done it. We take our children to the store and we either let them out of the car and turn our backs for just a second or they pull away from us. The ending result is our children are running freely in the parking lot with moving vehicles whose drivers can’t see the children because the children are too short to view in the mirrors.
This “shopping season” keep your children in the car until you have gathered your keys, cell phone and money in a manner that will enable you to carry your children or hold their hand. If your child is small enough to be in a stroller, set the stroller up first, gather your personal effects to put in the stroller then take your child out of the car seat and strap the child into the stroller. This ensures the child’s safety.
When you come out of the store the child is the first and most important thing that gets strapped into the car. If the child is older and can get out of the car seat keep the child in the stroller beside of you, until you have put your purchases in the car. Never let the child have the opportunity to run around. You should know your child as to what he or she will or won’t do. Your child is an individual and has their own mind that may change them at any second. If you are not confident your child will be still always be safe and not sorry.
My daughter was a toddler that could be stood in front of me and told not to move because cars couldn’t see her and she would get hurt. She never tested that theory. Even if she did she couldn’t get far because she was in between my feet facing the car. The only place she could go was in the car. I knew she wouldn’t challenge me so I didn’t have any problems going to the store. I would never let my son down in a parking lot because he would just take off. That’s why I say you should know your children. If you don’t you’re not alone. Just don’t take any chances.
Whenever you are in a parking lot keep your children strapped into a safe place. Safe places are car seats, strollers, and grocery carts. If you use a harness on your child be sure to put the harness on your child while he or she is still in the car. You can stand your child up on the floor in front of his or her seat and slide the harness onto your child. This way your child will be safe when he or she gets out of the car, as long as you hold onto the harness.
Accidents happen but you would feel horrible knowing you could have taken measures to prevent it. Be safe this Holiday Shopping season.
