Primary school

An accident can happen in the blink of an eye. This is a well-known saying that you often hear. What does it mean?

Well, that you must do everything to prevent accidents. As you already know, you are never alone in traffic. Because of a very small mistake by someone else, for example, an accident can happen that could leave you injured. That is why it is very important to always take precautions for your safety.

The seatbelt

On Sint Maarten, traffic laws set out all the rules that apply to traffic and road users. These laws also include rules about the use of a seatbelt.

The law states:

• Both the driver and all passengers of motorized vehicles must wear a seatbelt.
• Children younger than 4 years must be transported in a special child safety system such as a Maxi-Cosi car seat.
• Passengers with a height of less than 1.50 meters use a three-point belt as a lap belt or a three-point belt when using a child safety system.
• Passengers with a height of less than 1.50 meters use the seat next to the driver only if no front airbag system is present, or if it has been switched off.
• A child safety system can be placed on the seat next to the driver in vehicles without a front airbag system, or if the front airbag system has been switched off, and the passenger is facing backward.

It is very unfortunate that nurses have to treat various lightly and seriously injured people every day. In a car accident, people who are not wearing a seatbelt can be thrown against the windshield or the steering wheel.

Every year approximately 80 children are lightly injured and 10 children are seriously injured in our traffic. In most cases these children were not wearing a seatbelt.

Remember: a seatbelt is not a decoration. Seatbelts have been around for a very long time, but not everyone yet realizes how much suffering you can prevent by using one. Below are two videos. The first video shows how old seatbelts already are — this video was shown back in 1971. The second video shows the impact in an accident without and with the use of seatbelts. Every year there are campaigns that stress the use of seatbelts, because many people still do not realize their importance.

Can you answer the question below after watching the videos?

If you pay close attention, the seatbelt consists of two parts. The best way to wear a seatbelt is:

• You must wear it across the pelvis and across the breastbone, the ribs and the collarbone. Not across the stomach or across the arm. The main rule is that the belt goes over the bones, not over the flesh.
• The belt must not be twisted, because then it has become narrower and can cut into the flesh in a collision.
• If the belt is worn with slack, it is less effective. So wear it as tight as possible. The belt is often adjustable.

The headrest

Adjust your headrest properly. At the front of the car, and in some cars also at the back, you have headrests.

• The top of the headrest is level with the top of your head.
• The distance between the head and the headrest is less than 4 cm.

Why a headrest?

Because in a collision, especially a rear-end collision, you can suffer a neck injury. This neck injury is also called whiplash. A neck injury can cause many complaints, such as headaches, nausea and blurred vision.