Mum's appeal over child seats
8:00am Friday 1st February 2008
A HEREFORDSHIRE mother whose baby avoided serious injury in a head-on collision is appealing for parents to get child safety seats properly fitted.
Sionah Duke, who lives near Hay-on- Wye, believes her 14-month-old son Dillan avoided being seriously hurt in an "horrific" accident because his safety seat was fitted correctly.
Mrs Duke said: "Parents should always use child safety seats in their cars - I know this is what saved my son's life.
"I could not believe the only injury he seemed to have was a small knock to his head. Despite it being head-on, he came out relatively unscathed."
Mrs Duke, a part-time teacher, appealed to other parents to ensure their children are safe.
"I would advise other parents to always strap your child in safely and securely and don't leave any loose items in the back as these can fly forward, causing injury," she said.
"Everyone else in the car should wear seatbelts as they could get thrown forward and kill a child."
The accident happened on the A438 Hereford to Brecon road. Mrs Duke was injured and two people in the other car were also seriously hurt.