How much protection do we need?
No! This is not a blog about internal security, or national security or wars even. This is a rant about society and some of the laws that are inflicted upon us.
When will we take responsibility for our own actions? When will we take responsibility for caring and supervising our children, our pets and those around us.
I get a little fed up with the constant changes to laws and regulations that effect our everyday lives. I will give you some examples. I live in Australia and here we have compulsory wearing of seat belts in cars. I don’t really have a problem with that. However, when it comes to children we have to install special car seats. Okay, that’s fair enough. Now comes the crunch. The car seats have to have special holes drilled into the car so that the seat can be bolted to the car - the car seat belt is not enough to hold the child car seat - it’s good enough to hold me, but not a child’s car seat. Alright, so we drill the holes, put the special attachment in; 12 months later, the child is too big for the car seat so it all has to come out and another type of seat installed. A couple of years later yet another type of car seat.
Thats car seats. I can see some of the logic there, but I can also see the abuse (being a parent) by the makers of child car seats to get repeat business. They wont make a universal car seat that will do from birth to age 4 or 5 - those that do charge a fortune for them. One final rant - if the vehicle is involved in even the smallest of fender benders, the recommendation is to have all seat belts and child safety seats replaced - if you don’t, you may not be covered for insurance and could be held responsible for any future injuries if the vehicle is involved in another accident.
What about the swimming pool. We now have to have special child (and idiot) proof fences around all pools - when I say all I do mean all - even child paddling pools. If holds more than 50cm depth, it has to have a special fence built around it. Not only do you need to have the fence built, you have to get planning permission from the local council and when completed they have to inspect and pass the fence as safe - all at a cost of course - planning permission costs, inspection costs, and if you at any time in the future decide to make some changes = you have to go through the process again.
You know, I can understand car safety. I can even understand swimming pool safety. What I would like to know is when, as parent, am I actually supposed to take some responsibility? The latest I have heard on the grapevine - authorities are considering forcing all householders that have driveways to have these driveways child proof fenced off from the house. Why? Over the last couple of years, around Australia, there have been 3 or 4 toddler deaths from vehicles, mainly the large 4WD wagons, reversing over the children.
When is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that a) the child is not roaming around behind the vehicle and b) to constantly check to see what is behind the vehicle. Fencing every drive way in Australia will cost homeowners a fortune. Fence manufacturers and erectors will have a field day. Surely it would be cheaper and more viable to insist that all vehicles have reversing cameras.
It may also be time that we as adults decided to take some responsibility ourselves instead of trying to blame others!
November 17th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Just one more thing on the pool fencing. While we have to fence our pools, dams, ponds and water features are exempt. Statistics show that there are just as many drownings in these places. In truth, there are more adult drownings that occur here in Australia then child/toddler drownings. These are usually in public water ways ie, rivers, creeks, lakes and beaches. I think that these should all be fenced too then, if i have to have my children’s paddling pool fenced.
And don’t forget the humble bath. Oh no, they should be fenced too!
We are fast becoming a society where the responsibility of child supervision is no longer up to the individual parent/guardian. I feel that if you have a pool and your kids are going to play in it, it is up to you (or me) as the parent to ensure there is adequate supervision. If you can’t supervise them, then don’t fill the pool or let them outside. Just answering the phone is no excuse for leaving your children for a few minutes, drowning happens in seconds!
Please, no matter where your kids are, watch them!