It’s time for gates to get safer

Many of us have experienced the frustration of waiting for an electric gate to creak open to let us or our cars through – some unfortunate souls (myself included) may have lain awake, irritated and exasperated by the clanging of a closing gate.

But have you ever looked at a gate and considered it a fun place to play? Unless you are truly in touch with your inner child, probably not! You probably wouldn’t look at an automated gate and be tempted to see which of your limbs fit through the gaps in the gate, or play chicken while it swings or slides shut.

As much as you probably don’t see a potential playground when you look at a motorised gate on your apartment or office block, I doubt you look at it and see a risk of serious injury or painful death.

Unfortunately though, while accidents involving automated gates are relatively rare (as far as we know), they can have disastrous consequences. In the space of just a few weeks in 2010, two little girls died in separate incidents after getting trapped by a motorised gate near their homes. Tragically, they are not the only ones – RoSPA knows of at least one other death and three seriously injured children in the past few years in the UK and more abroad. Doubtless, many more have had narrow escapes.  

These horrifying accidents were splashed across the newspapers – it was hard not to be affected by the tragic stories of six-year-old Semelia Campbell who became trapped while playing hide and seek and Karolina Golabek, aged just five, who was crushed when playing with a cat she had befriended near her home.

At the Gate Safe Summit, from left, RoSPA’s campaigns officer Charlotte Heap, Gate Safe’s Richard Jackson, RoSPA’s campaigns manager Michael Corley, John Lacey from IOSH, Door and Hardware Federation’s Michael Skelding and Nick Ratty from the HSE.

The experts in automated gates took action immediately – Gate Safe was set up in September 2010 supported by the girls’ grieving families. Remarkably, Gate Safe, which has been working to improve safety standards for gate automation ever since, is run by volunteers from the industry, backed by the HSE, IOSH, the Door and Hardware Federation and RoSPA. 

We undoubtedly face a daunting task – with a worryingly high percentage of potentially unsafe gates (according to the findings of a Gate Safe survey) already in operation and many more being designed and specified as we speak.

Impressive progress has been made so far, as demonstrated at the Gate Safe Summit held at the RIBA building in London last week. Complex standards and safety protocols are being revised and amended, the Government has been petitioned and key industry players have been brought on board.

Listening to the passion with which the diverse panel spoke about the, admittedly technical and, to the untrained ear, quite perplexing, issues around making automated gates safe, it is clear that there is a strong collective will to make sure that no family has to experience loss in this way again.

Architects, insurers, installers, designers and manufacturers were all in attendance. Some spoke of specifiers that place cost before safety and competitors that would happily meet these unsafe expectations. The people in the room were committed – the worry is that those who weren’t present do not yet grasp the need for action.

The design, manufacture, installation, use and maintenance of automated and semi-automated gates are all factors in their safety. The hearts and minds of everyone involved in the process need to be won, including those of the people that use the gates, adults and kids alike. 

The event was as moving as it was technical – people that knew the families of Semelia and Karolina spoke emotionally about the impact of their deaths and the importance of Gate Safe’s work. Mixed in with technical and legal lingo, and noble ambitions to train and educate industry players, was the stark reality that children had died playing around gates because there was nowhere else “safe” for them to play.

Karolina Park, in Bridgend, was opened a year after she died on the site of a park near her home that had been closed at the time of her death because it was dangerous. As well as a fitting memorial, it demonstrates the importance of safe places for children to play.

Karolina’s Park - a safe place to play in Bridgend, Wales.

Making automated gates, new and existing, safer is vital and the industry (steered by Gate Safe) is making important strides in that direction. But so is the need to make sure that electric gates are used properly – if instructions and warnings are heeded then they pose little risk.

Most importantly, there is a need to ensure youngsters are not able to play unsupervised near gates. Safe alternatives, like the play area dedicated to Karolina, reduce the temptation of playing in the vicinity of an automated gate and supervision by an adult can remove this temptation entirely.

Any death is one too many, and there have no doubt been other injuries and near misses that have gone unreported. Gate Safe, supported by RoSPA, is working hard to improve gate standards and designs but it is clear that people need to be more aware of the danger.

Parents need to know that there is a risk so that they can educate and supervise potential victims. This is where you could come in – Gate Safe needs support to help ensure that more deaths are prevented.

Support RoSPA’s Electric Gates campaign here. Visit Gate Safe’s website here.

 Charlotte Heap, RoSPA’s campaigns officer

“Never was so much denied by so few to so many…”

I think it was James Madison – a Founding Father of the United States – who first warned about the “tyranny of the minority”.

But was anybody listening back then in 17blah-de-blah?

Though a lot has changed since our ancestors – those worthy pilgrims and prospectors – set sail for the “land of coke and burgers”…much still stays the same.

James Madison is not amused!

The democracy of Madison’s age was founded on “certain unalienable rights” such as, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – ahem, slavery and universal suffrage aside.

So, it is a touch discombobulating that several hundreds of years later a few elected representatives can still shuffle into the Palace of Westminster – arguably the world’s oldest and most respected organ of democracy – and easily and legitimately deny the will of the many.

On Friday, January 20, 2012, Rebecca Harris MP’s Daylight Saving Bill was effectively killed by a small band of MPs who, without any apparent pangs of conscience, decided to “talk it out of the House”.

They did this despite widespread popular support, the backing of the Government, and scores of MPs.

The Bill simply requested that the Government take a fresh look at how a switch to Single/Double Summer Time (GMT+1 in winter / GMT+2 in summer) would affect the UK.

If the evidence had proved compelling – and was accepted by all UK governments – it could have triggered a trial. No more, no less.

To put the perversion of these Parliamentary antics into some sort of perspective, here are a few stats to consider (courtesy of 10:10’s Lighter Later):

It is important that we do not allow the "sun to set" on RoSPA's Lighter Evenings campaign.

•  Of 160 MPs present on January 20, 70 per cent of all words spoken were from 10 MPs
• The same 10 MPs consistently voted to extend the debate
• 146 MPs consistently voted to progress the debate
• 25 per cent of all words (nearly an hour of talking) were delivered by one man, Christopher Chope (the Conservative MP for Christchurch), who consistently voted to extend the debate.

RoSPA has been campaigning for lighter evenings for decades. All the evidence suggests that an extra hour of evening daylight across the year would make the UK’s road users significantly safer. Figures cited by the Department for Transport show that by adopting SDST, about 80 deaths and at least 200 serious injuries would be prevented on our roads each year.

Despite this setback, we’re still hoping against hope. At the time of writing, there’s still a chance that Business Minister Ed Davey might commission his own review of the proposal.

Alternatively, we could try to get another Private Members’ Bill tabled at the start of the next session of Parliament in May.

Whatever the next step, we would like to thank RoSPA’s many thousands of campaign supporters who helped take this Bill to the brink of victory. It’s the closest we’d got since 1970.

For more information, and to register support for RoSPA’s campaign, visit www.rospa.com/lighterevenings/.

Michael Corley, RoSPA’s campaigns manager

Helping to deter drink driving with thought-provoking videos

All too often we hear in the news instances of lives being lost due to drink driving. Alcohol slows driver’s reactions, increases stopping distances, impairs judgement of speed and distance and affects vision. The more you drink, the more confident you become and the more likely you are to take risks – a potentially deadly mix when sitting behind the wheel.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has called for many years for the drink-drive limit to be reduced and for police to be given wider powers to conduct random breath tests. To help combat the culture of drinking and driving, RoSPA believes that a package of measures should be introduced, including: lowering the maximum blood alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg/100ml; evidential roadside breath testing; and wider powers for the police to breath test drivers to increase drivers’ perception of the risk of being caught without necessarily placing additional demands upon police resources, among others.

Helping to shine a light on the dangers of drinking and driving are pupils and students from across Wales, who entered the 2011 Multimedia Anti Drink Drive Competition, organised by Road Safety Wales. Groups of 11-25 year olds were invited to get together to devise, perform and record a live action multimedia presentation for RoSPA to help alert people against drink driving. The four regional winning entries made for thought-provoking viewing and took the form of an advert, news bulletin, film and music video, which earned the creators £500 for their school/college.

Yale College in Wrexham, North Wales, has entered the annual competition every year without fail since its inception four years ago. “A Lost Beauty” depicts the story of a young woman whose modelling aspirations are cut short as a consequence of drink driving.

Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais, Dyfed Powys, created a news bulletin titled “News for Numpties”, in which they focus on the core message that drink driving is dangerous, futile and can lead to life-changing consequences for families.

Spark Blaenymaes and Blaenymaes Primary School, in Swansea, South Wales, chose to portray the message that driving after “just one drink” can lead to tragic events. The piece reminds drivers that even a single alcoholic drink has a detrimental effect on their reaction time.

The winning entry for Gwent comes from Lewis School, Pengam, Caerphilly. Pupil and composer Richard Morgan teamed up with Amanda Leaver to produce this moving, original music video for their entry entitled “Find A Way”. The piece captures the sadness brought about by drink driving and conveys a serious message to viewers.

It is inspiring to see what can be achieved with little resources and lots of imagination, and fingers crossed these videos created by the youth of today will go some way towards stressing the importance of not drinking and driving.

Teenagers interested in learning more about safety on the road, at leisure, in the home or in the workplace should visit www.facebook.com/rospayouthnetwork?sk=wall

Michelle Harrington, road safety manager at RoSPA Wales

Help us to champion the case for lighter evenings

Time is running out – it’s official. On Friday, January 20, MPs will vote in the House of Commons on whether to back the Daylight Saving Bill. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents believes that a “yes” vote could bring benefits to all. So what are we waiting for?

The clock is ticking on the Daylight Saving Bill

A move to Single/Double Summer Time (GMT+1 in winter / GMT+2 in summer) would certainly be a good place to start in helping to make the UK’s road users significantly safer. Extra evening daylight protects vulnerable road users like children, the elderly, cyclists and motorcyclists, by making them more visible to motorists. And at the end of the working day, motorists’ concentration levels are often a lot lower, so a bit more afternoon/early evening light – especially in the winter – would help to lower the risk of an accident. It is therefore credible to suggest that any increase in casualties in the morning during the winter months would be outweighed by the reduction in casualties in the evenings – thanks to an hour of extra daylight.

Friday marks the third reading of the Bill, which passed its second reading in December 2010 with a huge majority. This feat means the push for lighter evenings is closer to succeeding now than at any time since 1970 – and our recent online opinion poll showed that 92 per cent of respondents supported the call for lighter evenings. The most recent research carried out by the Department for Transport showed that a move to SDST could reduce road deaths by around 80 per year and serious injuries by around 200 per year. There are also a host of other benefits to be had as a result of the proposed changes, with independent studies showing that a move to SDST would:

• Cut CO₂ emissions by 447,000 tonnes a year by reducing the need for electric lighting in the evenings
• Provide a £3.5bn boost to British leisure and tourism, creating up to 80,000 new jobs in the sector
• Reduce levels of obesity by allowing for more outdoor sport in the evenings
• Relieve the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder and similar conditions
• Reduce crime and the fear of crime (especially among the elderly).
  

  The all important vote will take place in the House of Commons on January 20, 2012.

This whole debate begs the question: What would you do with an extra hour of evening daylight? You could kick-start that exercise regime, go cycling, open up your business for longer, enjoy a family moment, mow the grass – and that’s just for starters. It is also worth mentioning, that at this stage, RoSPA is calling for more evidence for giving the UK its extra hour of evening daylight. The world has changed a great deal since the last experiment, which ran from 1968-71, when British Standard Time (GMT + 1) was employed all year round. Now it’s time to gain a fresh perspective for the 21^st century. Tourism chiefs in the Lake District are the latest to champion the Bill which they say will boost business, allowing attractions to stay open for longer and providing an opportunity to extend the tourism season. It’s a win-win!

So, over to you MPs – the ball is in your court. The nation is talking (and debating) on this matter. Is it not time to take a leap into the light? Whatever your view may be, here are a few thoughts and feelings from staff and students at the University of Birmingham to get you thinking:

 

To find out more and register support for RoSPA’s campaign, visit www.rospa.com/lighterevenings/

Charlotte Hester, RoSPA’s press officer/web editor

 

 

 

Don’t become another statistic – take action now against carbon monoxide poisoning

Losing a life to a silent, invisible gas doesn’t bear thinking about does it? Carbon monoxide doesn’t care how old you are, how healthy you are or where you live and its symptoms can often be confused with flu. But in a bid to raise awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Gas Safe Charity are launching the “Be Gas Safe” programme and are inviting potential partner organisations to get on board.

An example of a CO detector - have you got yours?

Rolling out across England this year, the programme will see 10,000 families receiving a free CO detector and many more receiving safety information. The deadline for organisations to register their interest in becoming local partners is the end of the month – so what are you waiting for? We are particularly interested in organisations that have regular and direct contact with key risk groups, such as families with young children and older people. Priority will be given to organisations in areas where there has been a higher incidence of CO poisoning per head of population or where particular concerns have been raised about gas safety. In return, you will receive an invitation to a briefing event highlighting gas safety issues and outlining the Be Gas Safe programme; a briefing pack on how to run a local Be Gas Safe programme; up to 100 CO detectors for distribution to vulnerable clients; and 1,000 I’m Staying Gas Safe leaflets.

Each year in England and Wales, there are approximately 50 accidental deaths, 200 non-fatal poisonings that require hospital admission and 4,000 visits to A&E that result from CO poisoning*. Children and older people are particularly at risk. With gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or ventilated known to be among the causes of CO poisoning, the key focus of the new three-year programme will be sharing information and advice about how to stay “gas safe” including through the regular servicing of fuel-burning appliances, good ventilation and the use of audible CO detectors.

Carbon monoxide - the "silent killer"

Is your home at risk? You can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by taking sensible precautions. Fuel-burning appliances should be serviced annually by a registered engineer to prevent a dangerous build-up of CO, which results from the burning of all fossil fuels – not just gas. Well ventilated rooms are also a must and chimneys and flues should be swept regularly. For gas appliances, use an engineer registered through Gas Safe Register for installation and annual services. Always check that an engineer’s capabilities, which are listed on the back of his or her identity card, include the job you want doing. If you live in rented property, ask your landlord to show you the property’s gas safety certificate. Homeowners are reminded than audible CO alarms should be used in addition to the other preventative actions and should not be relied upon as a single defence against CO.

It is important that employers, householders, landlords and tenants know the signs of the “silent killer” which has no smell. The symptoms tend to disappear as soon as you get outside into the fresh air when oxygen levels in the blood are restored. That recurring migraine you blamed on stress could be something a lot more sinister. Look out for the following symptoms: headaches, anxiety and depression, nausea, tiredness and drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, heart palpitations, chest pain, personality change and clumsiness – and take appropriate action. Left undetected, the long term effects of CO poisoning can include paralysis and brain damage. Also look out for gas appliances burning with orange, instead of blue, flames; sooty stains on or near appliances; excessive condensation in the room; and coal or wood fires that burn slowly or go out. If you think there is an immediate danger to you, your family, tenants or organisation, make a call to the gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999.

Spot the signs of CO poisoning

Potential partners across England who wish to join the three-year awareness programme and receive Be Gas Safe resources free of charge can download more information and an application form from the website – www.carbonmonoxidesafety.org.uk. Completed forms must be submitted by January 31, 2012, although it would be helpful if interested organisations could make prior contact with RoSPA, by emailing info@carbonmonoxidesafety.org.uk.

 

Check that the engineer is qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances

Gas Safe Charity was established in 2009 by the Health and Safety Executive and Gas Safe Register, which is the official list of engineers who are qualified to work safely and legally on gas appliances.

*Figures quoted by the Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk/health/2011/11/co-poisoning/).

Ashley Martin, RoSPA’s public health co-ordinator and Be Gas Safe programme manager

Help save children’s lives on the driveway with RoSPA’s checklist

Parking the car on the driveway is simple, right? You stop the car, put the handbrake on and go about your daily business. But what if you are attempting to park on an incline? Is there something that you might have missed?

These few questions could help save a life. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is aware of 14 children who have been killed by a vehicle at home since 2006. There are also many more near misses and cases in which a child is injured, sometimes seriously. Some accidents have involved a driver pulling on to or off a driveway without seeing the child, and others happened when a child was able to move a car that had been parked in a driveway. Recently in the press, there have been reported cases of children being crushed by cars that rolled down on steep driveways. In these cases the brakes have been said to have failed as they cooled down causing the car to silently roll backwards, hitting a child in the process. Rule 252 of The Highway Code advises drivers to select a forward gear and turn the steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill. If facing downhill, drivers should select a reverse gear and turn their steering wheel towards the kerb. Alternatively, use “park” if the car has an automatic gearbox.

RoSPA began looking into the safety of children in and around cars after we were approached by the family of Iain Goodwill who was killed when he was struck by a car on the driveway of his home near Inverness. The family of the 17-month-old, who died in 2007, set up the Iain Goodwill Trust to hopefully prevent others enduring similar tragedies.

The majority of parents are unaware of the potential for an accident involving their children and a car at home, as we discovered when we conducted driveway safety research in 2010. The survey, run in conjunction with the Iain Goodwill Trust (www.iains-trust.org), focused on children being struck by cars on driveways. One of the main issues identified through the research was that parents and carers did not think an accident would happen to their family, unless they knew someone who had already experienced one, meaning they did not take simple precautions.

Of those who took part in the survey:

• 59 per cent could recall a time when their child had followed them out of the house on to the driveway without them realising
• 22 per cent had started to manoeuvre a vehicle on the driveway and realised their child was close to the car when they thought they were elsewhere
• 95 per cent reported temporarily leaving their children unattended in the car on the driveway while they “dashed back into the house” for something
• 42 per cent said their children had picked up the family car keys without being seen to do so.

However, 68 per cent believed it was unlikely that their child would ever be injured by a vehicle entering or leaving their driveway. And 83 per cent believed it was unlikely their child would ever be injured by a vehicle parked on their driveway.

So how can you protect your children on your driveway? Between the ages of one and two, children become more and more mobile, meaning they can easily escape a parent’s supervision. It is not until the age of four or five that children begin to understand the concept of danger, and begin to heed warnings given to them. By raising awareness, we can help to highlight the dangers and the risks we take and look at the safety measures that can be put in place to make sure that children are not killed or injured around cars.

We advise:

• Turning your steering wheel when you are parked in order to activate the steering lock – 22 per cent of respondents always activate the steering lock, but 36 per cent never do so
• Reversing on to your driveway (if you have one) so that you drive forwards when pulling away – 26 per cent of respondents never reverse on to their driveway when returning home
• Parking in gear if your driveway is not flat (first gear if facing uphill; reverse gear if facing downhill)
• Locking your car doors before going into the house – a small minority of respondents reported never locking their vehicle doors when parked outside the home
• Keeping your car keys out of reach of children – the majority of respondents reported keeping keys on a high-level shelf or other high place; however many said that they were aware they kept their keys in a place a child could easily access.

Adopting some of these safety tips sooner rather than later could make all the difference. Losing a life just yards from your front door is a very high price to pay for not being fully aware of the dangers – and this is where RoSPA can help.

For more advice on keeping children safe in and around cars visit http://www.rospa.com/RoadSafety/advice/incarsafety/info/children_in_cars.pdf

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety

Have a safer journey on the road with RoSPA’s top winter driving tips

It is fair to say that winter is finally upon us – with more bad weather on its way. Last week, gales of up to 165mph battered the country, bringing chaos to parts of northern England and Scotland. We have heard about a couple of tragic deaths possibly related to the conditions and the Met Office has issued weather warnings for wind and snow.

Longer periods of darkness, snow, ice, heavy rain and freezing fog can make for treacherous driving conditions, as was the case particularly over the last two winters, so it pays to be prepared and adapt the way we drive to suit the conditions.

At RoSPA, we have issued some winter driving tips to help you stay informed and reduce the risk of having an accident. I have also recorded a video which summarises the tips in more detail to ensure you are fully prepared. Planning your journey in advance at this time of year could make all the difference and you should adjust your driving accordingly to suit the conditions.

 It is important that you do not get caught out by Mother Nature this year, so make sure that your vehicle is in tip top condition before setting out on the road. Check the following:

• Lights are clean and working
• Battery is fully charged
• The windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash
• Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure (of all the tyres, including the spare)
• Brakes are working as they should do
• Fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil
• It is also good practice to stock up on de-icer, windscreen wash, oil and anti-freeze and keep them topped up.

Among the most vital things to remember to check are the tyres. Make sure they are legal. We recommend that worn tyres are replaced with an equivalent new unit well before the legal minimum tread limit of 1.6mm is reached – ideally as soon as they reach 3mm. After all, the tyres are the vehicle’s only point of contact with the road and therefore need to be in excellent condition.

It is also worth packing an emergency kit, particularly on long journeys. An energy drink, blanket and the odd chocolate bar could make all the difference if you become trapped in a snow drift or stuck on a motorway overnight. We also advise carrying a shovel, tow rope, Wellington boots, a working torch, hazard warning triangle, first aid kit (in good order) and a fully charged mobile phone.

Hitting the road during the winter months should be approached with caution. If it is blowing a blizzard outside and hitting sub-zero temperatures, ask yourself, “Is this journey absolutely necessary?” Remember, conditions can change quickly and your chosen route could worsen as a result. But ultimately, the responsibility lies with the driver in determining what an “essential” journey is; just ensure you keep up-to-date with weather broadcasts and travel bulletins in order to stay one step ahead.

The key message for winter driving is space and plenty of it. In snow and ice you may need up to 10 times the normal distance for braking. That is why it pays to drive at a safe distance from the car in front. In snow, or on icy or snow covered roads, your speed should be reduced to limit your chances of skidding. Your stopping distance will increase massively, so adjust your speed accordingly.

To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently.

Refresher driving training is a great way of preparing yourself for the dangerous road conditions which may may greet you on the roads this winter. Your employer may offer driver training or alternatively you can contact the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group in your area. To find out which is the nearest to you, go to www.roadar.org

And, if you do find yourself in trouble this winter, do not abandon your vehicle. Call the emergency services on your mobile phone or from a roadside telephone and stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Stay calm and try not to panic.

For further advice about winter driving, visit www.rospa.com/winterdriving/ or www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/333.aspx

To keep up-to-date with traffic news and information visit www.highways.gov.uk, www.trafficscotland.org, www.traffic-wales.com and www.trafficwatchni.com/site/default.asp

Bob Smalley, RoSPA’s chief driving examiner

Reaching new heights for RoSPA with STEPUK

RoSPA is delighted to share a blog written by medical student Arlena Kuenzel, co-chair of the Leicester division of STEPUK, who with her fellow students tackled the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge recently.

Here is their story:

After some last minute preparations (including getting the maps) we set off on our way to Yorkshire. There was a group of nine of us that took part in this year’s STEPUK (Society for Trauma, Emergency Medicine/Nursing and Pre-hospital Care United Kingdom) challenge to raise money for RoSPA. The challenge involved us walking a route that incorporated Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in one day – a daunting distance of 24.5 miles (39.2km)!

And off they go!

As most of the group had not done anything like this before, it was great to find out that a friend wanted to join us as his army training meant we had plenty of expertise to guide us along the way.

Our first challenge came not from the walking but from the camping barn that we were meant to be staying at. Having arrived in the dark on the Saturday night, we were left with a locked door and no answer from either of the numbers provided to us. We felt the most sensible solution to this was to head to the nearby pub to have a drink, order some food and wait for the rest of the team to arrive. Luck seemed to be on our side and the barmen were able to help us with the code to get in to the building. We had hoped for a good night’s sleep but were kept up until the early hours by another group staying in the same building. Needless to say, the hot breakfast was more than necessary to get us going the next morning!

Negotiating some of the challenging terrain.

We set off in good spirits and in the pitch black. Despite a minor detour, our head torches served us well and we were making good tracks in no time. The top of Pen-y-Ghent came fast enough and we all thought that this was going to be easier than expected. Then we were faced with the long walk to Whernside. We had been told that part of our intended route was particularly boggy and with few paths for guidance. An alternative route would have made for easier walking but was longer in distance so in our adventurous enthusiasm, we decided to head for the bog. Needless to say, there were many stuck boots and several falls in the mud! Working as a team, we eventually got everyone through to the other side with mud covered clothes to show for our efforts.

By the time we were heading up to Whernside, we were all getting tired and feeling the effects of the walking. Having a qualified physiotherapist on the team came in very useful as he provided plenty of on the scene physiotherapy to keep everyone going. The wind, or rather gale, that greeted us along the ridge of Whernside was not appreciated and we were all too happy to descend on the other side. At this point, we came across another group who unfortunately had a member that had succumbed to the slippery descent and broken their ankle. We witnessed the mountain rescue team and the ambulance working together to help the injured walker back down to the road in order to be taken to hospital. It certainly acted as a reminder for us all to take extra care along the rocky path!

Battling the elements as they soldier on.

As we headed towards our last peak of the day, we knew time was getting short and we were hoping to press on. Some group members headed back to the base, having made a valiant effort for their first time doing such a challenging hike. The walk to the top of the last leg was the steepest of the three peaks and there was great relief when we finally got to the summit! We thought that we were nearly there, but the descent and walk back to our base seemed never ending. As daylight dwindled, we once again reached for our head torches and despite our aching muscles we were happy to have finished the Yorkshire Three Peaks, having not only raised £500 for RoSPA but also having made new friends along the way.

By Arlena Kuenzel

Vehicle technology: a guide for the perplexed

RoSPA was lucky enough to have on work placement a young man by the name of Ajinkya Bhalerao. He joined the road safety department for a couple of weeks back in July to complete a project on vehicle technology. He did a superb job, impressed us all immensely, and agreed to write a blog for us – duly presented below!

Ajinkya, Duncan Vernon and Cassius Francis

Before I arrived at RoSPA, I was slightly unsure as to how my desired career path (of becoming an engineer) would fit-in with the company. However, under the wise guidance of Duncan Vernon, I settled to create what would eventually be called “Car Safety Technology: A Car Buyer’s Guide”.

The “Guide”, now completed, does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, that is to say it translates obscure terminology (which incidentally car manufacturers love to show off) into layman’s terms which ordinary folk like you and I can comprehend.

Since safety is of such paramount importance in nearly everything we do, it’s of no surprise that car safety technology is continually advancing and developing. The problem arises when prospective car buyers become flustered by their inability to cope with the mystifying terms that surround the topic.

I hope that in having finished the guide, it will someday see the light of day, for at present I’m afraid to say that, due to copyright reasons, RoSPA can’t really release the guide, well … not unless it can somehow withstand the “lawpower” of a multi-national corporation like BMW. That said, I hear that members of RoSPA Birmingham are hard at work in trying to salvage the guide’s contents and use non-copyright images, so I suppose there’s still a shred of hope in seeing it reach the public. After all, it would be such a shame if the guide, which was meant to help the public, never actually made it.

Apart from that, I found the work experience placement at RoSPA to be brilliant, and I’d recommend it to anyone who, like I did, wanted to get a taste of how life was like in a pretty large organisation. Since safety encompasses literally all the things we do, the fact that RoSPA’s mainly for safety doesn’t mean that the career path you’d wish to follow can’t somehow be addressed in some sort of project. RoSPA staff really helped me out in choosing an idea which would be stimulating, whilst at the same time tailored to my needs of going into engineering.

Apart from receiving a heavy dosage of “office life” (and of all the thrills and joys you’d expect to be associated with it), I was pleasantly surprised to find that the world of work was by no means as daunting or as treacherous as I had previously conceived. I was relieved to be in the company of understanding and down-to-earth people during my placement, so there was of course no military-style discipline whilst I was there. That said, they helped motivate me to push myself and actually complete the guide, for which I am very grateful since now I have something solid and substantial which I can show to anyone interested in the placement. I hope it will prove that I actually sat down and got to work whilst at RoSPA, and didn’t do “filing” or “secretarial tasks” in that time. I’m sure that, having completed this placement, I’ll be in a stronger position to advance and succeed in my future career.

As previously mentioned I aspire to one day be an engineer, and am planning on going to university to attain the relevant degree. That is, after I’ve finished my A-Levels, which I’m currently in the process of doing. I still haven’t made my mind-up as to which particular field of engineering I’d like to go into, so I suppose I’ll have to decide. By next September, at least, which gives me oceans of time to ponder and choose. I’m not too sure what I’ll actually end-up doing, though. But thanks to my placement with RoSPA, I’m more familiar and “clued-in” with the world of work.

Ajinkya Bhalerao, 16, work experience student with RoSPA

The RoSPA road safety team is currently sourcing copyright-free images of the different vehicle technologies that Ajinkya wrote about in the guide and hopes to put it on the website soon – watch this space…

Is there an app for that?

Do you have an interest in child car seats? Have you bought a car seat in the past, or do you need to buy one, and are baffled by the choice?

We at RoSPA would like to know what you think about the process of buying child car seats, with a view to making it easier for parents and carers to choose the correct seat for their needs.

Please spare a few moments to visit www.childcarseats.org.uk and take part in our online survey. As a token of our gratitude, we’ll enter you into a draw to win an iTunes voucher.

Thank you!