Correct way to keep children safe in cars

VIP passenger: 9-month-old Aleina relaxing in her infant carrier as her mother attends to her. - SAM THAM/The Star

WE recognise the increase in the incidents of children dying due to thermal injury after being accidentally left in cars. It takes only 20 minutes for a young child left in a closed vehicle on a hot day to die.

To prevent this tragedy, it is important that parents and carers receive good, accurate and scientific information. A news report by Bernama recently (see: http://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=1448063) quoted the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Hajah Rohani Abdul Karim providing advice to prevent these events. Unfortunately, part of the advice provided is factually incorrect and potentially harmful. We hope the minister was misquoted because parents tend to consider such a source as authoritative.