• Police and Fire: 10111
• Medical: 10177
• From mobile: 112
It is important to know local emergency numbers for your own area as well. Memorise these and make sure your children know what to do and whom to call in an emergency as well.
Childsafe is a campaign of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa (CAPFSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide. We are a non-profit South African organization promoting optimal health and development of all children under the age of 18.
Childsafe assists in reducing injuries of all severity through research, education, environmental change and recommendations for legislation. (Financial assistance in this regard is always welcome). Our Childsafe web page is part of our ongoing activities to get information to where it is required.
GLOBAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK 23-29 APRIL 2012
Road Accidents are the number one cause of unnatural deaths to children in South Africa. Passenger deaths rank 4th. Good laws, proper enforcement and education are essential to reduce passenger injuries. Currently the South African law states that all children (children 3 years and older) have to be restrained in a seatbelt or car restraint if available. The current seatbelt legislation is unfortunately not properly enforced and parents and caregivers are unaware or ignorant about the dangers of not restraining children in motor vehicles.
Annually, between 200 – 300 children with injuries as passengers are treated at the Trauma Unit of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital alone, in Cape Town. Of these children between 84 – 87 % are not restrained in any way. This is an average of 18 children per month that are treated at this hospital for injuries sustained while a passenger.
As there is a great need to educate parents and caregivers on child passenger safety in motor vehicles Childsafe ‘s focus of the week is to create awareness on the risks associated with not restraining children in motor vehicle and also make information available on the correct and safe restraint methods. Childsafe targets the Red Cross Children’s Hospital (RXH) in Cape Town, staff and parents visiting this hospital.
