We at AutoBuzz.my are strong advocates for the use of child seats and are in full support of the Government’s move of enforcing mandatory use of child seats by 2020. However, we too understand that not every family has the luxury to splurge on a child seat hence, we very much welcome organisations making child seats more accessible to families.
BMW Malaysia in its fifth edition of the BMW Safety 360° Programme, has partnered with Childline Foundation – a non-profit organisation focused on the awareness and education of child safety and protection – to introduce the “From Day One” campaign.
“From Day One” is aimed at promoting the importance of child seats from the day newborns leave the hospital. To kickstart the campaign, the first six babies born on Father’s Day at Hospital Putrajaya received a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant child seat with the support of Chicco Malaysia.
New parents were also given a workshop on the best child safety practices from Childline Foundation covering topics on the right criteria for choosing a child car seat, proper methods for installation, as well as the lifecycle of a child car seat.
In the next phase of “From Day One” campaign, BMW Malaysia and Safe ‘n Sound, a distributor of child seats and baby gear will introduce a subsidy programme for 150 units of snskidz Ace infant carrier car seats at RM100 each (retail price: RM199). The rear-facing infant carrier car seat can be used from birth to 13 kg and carries the ECE R44-04 certification. The subsidised child seats are available at five government hospitals in Klang Valley which will be named soon.
Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, Harald Hoelzl said: “We will continue promoting the need for child car seats by offering subsidies alongside Safe ‘n Sound to help make child car seats more accessible. However, it is not enough that parents use child car seats. It is equally important that they understand the proper ways of choosing and installing the child car seats to ensure the utmost safety of their children.”
Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia, Sashi Ambi added: “As we continue to advocate child safety values with the BMW Safety 360° Programme, we would like to urge other partners to take part in this movement to make child car seats a norm – whether by raising greater awareness on the topic through education, making child car seats more accessible, or reaching out to Childline to be a part of the programme. We hope to see an increase in its usage as enforcement comes into effect. After all, the safety of our children on the road begins with the correct use of child car seats.”
