Again this year, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) will present an infant car seat to the first baby born in each of the province’s 12 hospitals that perform deliveries.

NLMA President Dr. Andrew Major says the intent of the program is to encourage all parents to use approved car seats for their children right from the moment they leave hospital as newborns.

“Parents should pay close attention to how they place their child in the seat and ensure the seats are being used as they were designed,” said Dr. Major. According to Transport Canada, every year, about 10,000 children 12 or under are injured, some of them fatally, in traffic collisions in Canada. Surveys show that as many as one-third of Canadian children are not properly restrained when they're traveling in motor vehicles. Transport Canada reports that using proper child restraints can reduce the likelihood of a child being injured in an accident by 55 per cent and the likelihood of the child being killed by 75 per cent.

“The only safe way to keep small children protected in cars is with infant carriers, child seats and booster car seats,” said Dr. Major.