No Child Carseat = Child Endangerment = Call to Police?

[S.T.A.C.E.Y]

I was reading the thread "Vent: I absolutely HATE stupidity! Not ignorance.....STUPIDITY!!" and it got me thinking about a potential topic for one of my nursing classes:

Should there be more encouragement for nurses to contact police if they feel a parent may be transporting a child from the hospital/clinic unsafely?

What are your thoughts on the subject? I'm just brainstorming ideas in my head right now, and would like to hear what you think are the pros and cons of collaborating with your local police department to encourage this practice.

[iheartyou]

I understand how it feels to be on both sides of this debate. My youngest was houdini and could always figure his way out of the seat. If anyone else was in the car with us, they could buckle him back in quickly. If it was just the two of us, I was forced to keep an eye on him, an eye on the road, and to try to find the safest place on the highway to pull over and buckle him back in. Of course I was afraid of getting pulled over, but I was much more afraid of him being injured. If anyone ever called the police on me, I would happily pull over and explain the situation. I don't think that calling the police would be overstepping or overreacting. After all, it's a child's life we are talking about.

[leslie :-D]

But I won't be bullied into silence and the city still has to generate revenue from somewhere.

around where i live, many accuse the cops of trying to meet their quotas, as they hand out speeding ticket after speeding ticket.

i've never heard anyone insinuate that they go after those w/o corificeats.

but in principle, i understand what you're saying.

leslie

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

In my state they are allowed to stop someone merely because of seatbelt or corificeat violations. I have mixed feelings because I used to remove my children and breastfeed them in the car when we were (some else at the wheel) driving. On the other hand I think seatbelt and corificeat laws are a good public health practise. I would probably give people the benefit of the doubt if I saw them in violation though, since circumstances do come up sometimes in life.

[MrsMommaRN]

this is one of my biggest pet peeves. kids and babies not in car seats floppin' around in the car like it's just a big playpen. wth!!

what you can do is educate them on the parameters of child restraints. come right out and ask: "do you have the proper safety seats in your car?" if not refer them to a place they can get them at low or no cost. if there is not a place in your area then maybe it is your calling to start something. contact a seat manufacturer and see what you can arrange.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

this is one of my biggest pet peeves. kids and babies not in car seats floppin' around in the car like it's just a big playpen. wth!!

what you can do is educate them on the parameters of child restraints. come right out and ask: "do you have the proper safety seats in your car?" if not refer them to a place they can get them at low or no cost. if there is not a place in your area then maybe it is your calling to start something. contact a seat manufacturer and see what you can arrange.

why

isnt it easier to respect their choice

we do still alledgedly have freedom of choice

[Susan9608]

Whatever happened to freedom of choice in this country.

When it comes to children, who don't yet have the capabilities to decide what is best for them, then freedom of choice doesn't apply. It's not fair for a child to be killed or seriously injured just because his/her parents chooses to forgo a safety seat. I actually think it's kind of sad that we have to have laws that force people to protect their children. Shouldn't everyone want to protect their children in every way possible?

At my hospital, the nurses are required to walk patients out of the hospital to their car. If there is no car seat, we're supposed to take the child back up to the floor, notify the charge nurse, and ensure that some sort of car seat is found before the child is allowed to leave.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

It is best left up to the parents, legally, morally, ethically, To decide what is best for their child.

All I have seen of governmental influence has been a debacle in whatever they attempt.

[leslie :-D]

We do still alledgedly have Freedom of Choice

not freedom of clearly dangerous choices.

leslie

[MrsMommaRN]

Freedom of choice when it's been proven that children under the age of twelve are much safer restrained in a moving vehicle. Anyone is safer restrained in a moving vehicle. Yes you have a choice to buckle up or not to but a child does not it is up to the parent to keep them safe until they have all the information they need to make an informed chioce wether or not to restrain themselves in a vechile or have there brains scattered on the highway. Sorry seen it happen too many times. :angryfire

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

not freedom of clearly dangerous choices.

leslie

safer than getting us into an illegal war, that threatens my children over there. I see now what you mean that the government makes better choices than we do.

[leslie :-D]

safer than getting us into an illegal war, that threatens my children over there. I see now what you mean that the government makes better choices than we do.

one action does not negate the other.

leslie

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

What do corificeats have to do with foreign policy?