Something on the NBC Nightly News the other night caught my attention. It was a report on how Americans are cutting back on healthcare expenses to the detriment of their health. 11% are cutting back on their prescriptions or splitting pills, even patients with insurance. Some are taking their daily meds every other day or every few days. They simply can’t afford to care for themselves and keep food on the table or pay for the house each month. These are folks with serious diseases like diabetes or kidney disease who should be maintaining themselves with the utmost of care. 36% are skipping doctors’ appointments, waiting until they become extremely ill before seeking medical care. All because of the expense. When they do this, in the end, it actually makes their care more expensive because the preventative measures haven’t taken place and they oftentimes end up in the hospital with more intensive care.
I don’t need to remind you that we’re coming off of one of the worst financial years in recent history. People everywhere are struggling just to make ends meet, even those who thought they were safe just one year ago. If they’re cutting pills and skipping doses of essential meds, what else are they doing in their daily lives to make it?
Of course, the first thing that pops into my mind is car seats. Using a car seat is all about preventative care, is it not? One of my favorite statistics I grabbed from the Safe Kids Worldwide web site many years ago is, “Every dollar spent on a child safety seat saves this country $32.” Prevention at its best. Spend a buck to save 32. Almost makes me think that vehicle insurance should pay for car seats before the crash, never mind not giving us a problem paying for them afterward; think how much they would save in medical bills paid due to reduced injuries!
Is the bad economy forcing parents to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do? Like buy garage sale or second-hand seats from a resale store where the history of said seat is unknown? Use a car seat that’s long outgrown? Or worse-use no car seat at all? (Wink, wink, stick a DVD player in the back seat and throw the seat belt over the kid). Sure, it’s easy for us to roll our eyes when a parent calls from the maternity floor of the hospital asking for a free infant seat-after all, they did have 9 months to plan for this one. But after the infant seat is outgrown, then what? Speaking from experience, those first sleepless few months go by so fast and we all know some parents don’t realize there’s another car seat that comes after the infant seat.
The lousy economy affects nonprofits too because as people cut their pills to make their ends meet, they sure aren’t donating their spare pennies to us to buy car seats for the truly needy. Even the wealthy don’t see car seats as a worthy cause during this slump because, really, when there are so many empty tummies, food should come first and the food banks must be stocked.
I could weave this entry many different ways, but I think I’ll end it here and see what comments come my way.
“most parents will sacrifice everything to keep their kids safe.”
“I sure hope people are putting their kids first,”
Unfortunately, I don’t think either statement is true. Perhaps you can convince me when I stop seeing things like a Cadillac Escalade (which STARTS at $54,000) with a $60 Walmart seat – used incorrectly (not even belted or LATCHed in). Or a brand new Town & Country with three old hand-me-down seats, two of which are broken.
Etc.
It’s hard not to get jaded, and this hasn’t affected my dedication to helping parents, but it sure doesn’t make me think that most parents are sacrificing anything to keep their kids safe.
I sure hope people are putting their kids first, but after constantly hearing on the media outlets that folks aren’t buying meds and paying their rent, it makes me wonder. It’s good we have a wide range of seat prices so we’re not stuck with paying a month’s rent for a car seat.
It all comes down to trying to make parents see the possible future after a serious crash where their child has been seriously injured because of not being properly restrained.
i doubt it’s the economy. most parents will sacrifice everything to keep their kids safe. the things i’ve seen ranged from just plain not stupid or for the convenience, e.g. grandma carries the child in the backseat sitting next to a carseat! or putting a child immediately in a booster after they’ve hit 3yo and 30 lbs. and these people are well educated and affluent. i even tried to talk my friend out of it but the booster is just more convenient for her. our children are the same age and about the same ht/wt. hers is in a turbobooster at 3 already even tho she hasn’t outgrown her RA and mine still in his MA at almost 5).
i like the idea that carseat requirement attached to the insurance requirement. afterall, it’s the insurance company that would have to pay for a severely damaged child (and us) and all the other costs notwithstanding. being a pediatrician, i’ve seen results of unrestrained children in a car crash, not a pretty sight. like i tell everyone… it’s cheaper to buy/replace a carseat than a child.
I think most people don’t buy car seats because they don’t want to, they either know they can get it free or they feel it’s not necessary. Why buy a new one if they can get a used one.
But I also see people buy expensive seats just because they have a name to it. Install it wrong, place the child in wrong.
There are some people who really can’t afford it but it’s hard to determine who they are and the people who can afford commit fraud and take them from people who really need them.
But in general I don’t think people aren’t buying seats due to the economy.
I think the insurance agencies should supply them. They should ask how many kids you have and thier ages and provide a car seat or voucher for one (you must prove you have one installed). No car seat, no insurance and since it’s not coming out of pocket shouldn’t be a problem.
I’m drastic in my discipline so I think there should be a clause in the insurance stating if the car seat is not installed the insurance coverage/payment is penalized if there is an accident.
The legal penalties for no/misuse of child car safety are a joke. Here it’s a $30-35 ticket, you get a $52 ticket just for parking. I feel no/misuse should be considered child endangerment and neglect.