A multifaceted program to increase the appropriate use and decrease the misuse of child restraints

While the safety benefits of child restraints are well documented, the correct use of appropriate restraints is low in children aged 3-5 years. A systematic review has shown that interventions targeting either families or service providers using education, distribution, enforcement and/or incentives are promising. However, robust, prospective studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of such interventions. We developed the Buckle-Up Safely program and evaluated this in a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 27 early childhood services in low socio-economic areas of West and South West Sydney in 2010. After randomisation, a total of 830 families with children attending 13 preschools and long day care centres received the program. The Buckle-Up Safely program is a multifaceted education based program targeting educators, children, families and management. The program built on existing services and included: a workshop and follow on programming support for educators developed and conducted by the Kids and Traffic team; policy support for services to further develop their safe arrival and departure and excursion policies; family information sessions; distribution to families of a Buckle-Up Safely bag containing a DVD with key restraint messages and access to various translated information sheets; free restraint checks at local fitting stations and access to subsidised restraints. This program describes the Buckle-Up Safely Program in detail and addresses the program's uptake and acceptability.