HKCC's first international joint test on 19 child car seats: how well do they protect a child in a crash, how easy they are to fit and the potential hazard of misuse
The Consumer Council has joined forces with its counterparts in 10 European countries to assess the safety and performance of child car seats.
It is the first internationaljoint test on this product undertaken by the Consumer Council. Results of 19 of the testmodels, locally available, were published today (February 16) in its monthly magazine'CHOICE'.
The test adopted the latest version of the European Regulation (published by the UN) governing the design of suchproducts (child restraint system) ECE R44.03.
The new version incorporates improvements that European consumer bodies had been campaigning for. Amongst the changes are requirements for the seats to be tested using retractor (inertia-reel) seat-belts, as found in modern cars, instead of static seat-belts. Child seats must now also have much clearer labels explaining how to fit and use them.
Crash tests were used toassess the protection offered in a front-on collision of a car travelling at 50 km/h, andrear impact at 30 km/h.
It showed that all child seatstested could offer some protection in a crash if and provided if they are fittedproperly. However, the impact test results indicated that some models fared lessfavourable as they allowed more movement/acceleration of the child in the event of acrash.
Consumers are neverthelessurged to also pay attention to the potential of misuse of child car seats and theresulting hazards.
A recent survey conducted inthe Netherlands has detected a high incidence of misuse. More than 60% of the child seatsare wrongly fitted or used.
In the test, the models wereassessed, in accordance with their fitting instructions and design, for their likelihoodof fitting or using the seat incorrectly, and rated for the misuse potential. Properinstallation is essential for the safety of the child.
Besides looking at the safetyaspects, the test also evaluated the models for their ease or convenience of use comfort of the child, installing the seat, putting in and rescuing the child, etc. It wasfound that some were easier to use than others.
Consumers here in Hong Kongare likely to find it hardly possible to buy child car seats approved by the Road Traffic(Safety Equipment) Regulations which require that a child seat must be made toBS3245:Part2:1991: Specifications for restraining devices for children.
The Council was not able tofind any product on the market made to this standard. Most products locally available aremade to either the ECE, Japanese or US standards.
The Council has expressed itsconcern over the matter to the Transport Department early last year. It is understood thatthe Department is now in the process of updating the Schedule 2 Part 1 (Approved SeatBelts) in the Regulations to include the latest standards developed in some overseascountries.
In the report, published inthe February issue of 'CHOICE', consumers are advised :
- NEVER install a rearward facing infant seat in a front passenger seat with airbag it may cause serious injury or death to the infant. Fitting a child seat to the rear passenger seat is usually safer, whether the seat is of the forward facing or rearward facing type.
- Read the instructions and/or labelling carefully.
- Proper installation is important for the protection of the child.
Public urged to heighten fire preventionawareness and acquaint themselves with the use and maintenance of fire fighting equipment. In addition, new measure to facilitate access to fire hose reel is on the way
Recent cases of serious fire casualties have brought home the horror of a fire accident. Fire safety in residential and commercial buildings is a matter of grave public concern.
But don't let the firefighting equipment, at home or in the office, lull you into a sense of false security. Fire extinguishers and fire blankets could be useful at the start of afire. But there lurks a potentially greater danger: they may be rendered totally useless if maintenance is insufficient or worse if there is a lack of knowledge on their proper use.
The Consumer Council has sounded this cautionary warning in a report on fire fighting equipment in this 256th issue of 'CHOICE'.
In the report, the Council stressed the paramount importance of fire safety awareness and fire prevention. But it is equally essential to fight widespread ignorance on the proper and effective use of fire services installations in residential and some old commercial buildings.
Many are probably unaware that different types of fire require the use of different types of fire fighting equipment or the consequences could be worse, for example, in the case of a fire extinguisher:
Dry Powder Type - suitable for use on most fires, flammable liquids (i.e. kerosene or paint thinner) or electrical.
Carbon Dioxide Gas Type - use on electrical fires, flammable liquids, delicate equipment (i.e. electronic or computer ware), important documents.
Water/Carbon Dioxide Type - use on fires involving wood, textiles and paper but NEVER on fires involving electrical, flammable liquids or metals such as magnesium, potassium and sodium.
Foam Type - use on fire involving flammable liquids but NEVER on electrical fires.
The advice is:
- Always be familiar with all the information such as the type, applicable fire types, instruction for use and maintenance date on the extinguishers.
- Demonstrate to all members of the family on how to use fire extinguishers at home.
- Call only registered contractors to check regularly: fire extinguishers should be examined every 12 months while a hydraulic pressure test on the cylinder every 4 years in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.
In addition, a new measure is expected to be introduced to facilitate access to fire hose reel.
The Consumer Council has received a complaint on the practice of putting the nozzle of fire hose reel in glass-fronted cabinet secured under lock and key.
The concern is that breaking the glass-fronted cabinet might cause bodily injury and delay timely fire fighting action for a member of the general public.
It was understood that the glass-fronted cabinet housing the hose reel nozzle is a requirement of the Water Supplies Department for preventing improper use of water though abuse of fire hose water is an offence under the law.
The Fire Services Department and Water Supplies Department have followed up the issue and have reached the consensus that the thickness of the glass should not exceed 1.5 mm and that a hammer would be provided nearby to enable users to break the glass. This measure is expected to be put into practice in the near future.
In 1997, there were 35,534fire calls. Fires claimed 47 lives and injured 605. Careless handling or disposal of cigarette ends, matches and candles (4,411) remain the major causes of fires, followed by incidents involving the preparation of food stuff (3,005) and electrical faults (1,529).
Council's call on manufacturers to improve safetyof washing machines and clothes dryers in the wake of recent drowning tragedy
The Consumer Council is appealing to manufacturers of washing machines and dryers to re-examine the design of the doors for the improvement of safety to young children.
Parents should also make sure that their young children are not left unattended when there is possibility that they can get access to the washing machines and dryers.
The appeal followed a drowning accident involving a 2-year-old child in a washing machine last month. An 18-month-oldbaby boy was drowned 12 years ago in a similar accident.
Both drowning tragedies had the following factors in common:
- The child was left playing near the washer without adult supervision.
- The door to the tub is light and easy for a child to open.
- Water was stowed in the tub.
On the other hand, the Electrical Product (Safety) Regulation, which is expected to come into operation in May, has provisions that address both the electrical and non-electrical hazards of electrical appliances.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the enforcement agency of the Regulation, is in contact with the suppliers of the washing machine to draw their attention to the legislative provisions and possible enhancement of their product safety level.
In this February issue of 'CHOICE' is included a report depicting the hazards of washing machines and clothes dryers to young children.
According to the report, top-loader washers of the impeller and agitator types are potentially more hazardous for these reasons:
- The door is light and easy to open;
- the door opening is large;
- water can be stored in the tub for soaking;
- there are no automatic door locks (i.e. the door can be opened while the washer is in operation), the impeller continues to move even when the door is open;
- the child accidentally falling into the machine, upside down with his legs in the air, will not find anchorage to help free himself; and
- the tub is usually deeper compared to an ordinary water bucket, thus posing a greater drowning hazard.
The report observed that drum type (European) washers are comparatively safer because:
- the door opening is smaller;
- the amount of water is usually smaller; and
- the door is locked automatically when the washer is in operation (before being able to open the door, users have to wait 1 to 2 minutes after switching off the power).
The top-loader drum type is considered even safer in that:
- there is additional door on the inner drum which require a force to open; and
- the door opening of the inner drum is smaller.
The report also drew the attention of parents to the potential hazards of clothes dryers. Unsafe design of the doors of dryers can also result in tragic accidents to young children.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a 4-year-old boy climbed into his grandmother's old dryer and pulled the door closed. The dryer began operating immediately; the heat and reduced oxygen caused the boy's death.
Dryers which have large door openings and which re-start as soon as the door is closed are considered less child safe. Many such dryers are believed to be still available on the local market.
In contrast, some new dryers have to be re-started manually by operating a control and some can be pushed open from within with a limited force.
Equally important is the responsibility of parents and adults to ensure that young children are not left unattended without supervision as was the case in these tragedies.
The Council has tested 10video cassette recorders. Overall results were satisfactory in respect of picture and sound quality but some VCRs are better than others. VCRs with user friendly design can greatly facilitate users to make good use of the various features and to easily preset programme. Two VCRs, however, lost the memory after a power blackout that lasted 30minutes. Full test findings can be found in this February issue of 'CHOICE'.