Sticky situation: Aussie mum's ‘baby on board’ revelation sparks roaring debate!
- Replies 9
The iconic yellow ‘baby on board’ stickers that adorn the rear windows of many family cars have become a familiar sight on Australian roads.
However, what do these signs actually mean, and are they as crucial in an emergency as some drivers believe?
A recent revelation by an Aussie mum has sparked a nationwide debate, leading to some surprising insights about these well-intentioned warnings.
Victorian mum Jayde Sandlant recently took to social media to share her newfound understanding of the ‘baby on board’ stickers.
She believed that the stickers were meant to alert passersby to check for a baby first in the event of an accident.
‘It’s literally a sticker to inform people if you get into an accident to go to the baby first,’ she shared.
‘Is this common knowledge? Because I didn’t know it.’
However, her post opened the floodgates to a myriad of responses, with many people offering their own interpretations of the stickers' purpose.
While some agreed with Sandlant's initial thought, others were quick to correct the misconception, pointing out that the stickers are not primarily intended for first responders—as they assumed Jayde said.
Jayde reiterated, however, that she was pertaining to civilian passersby, explaining ‘I was having a conversation with my friends when one of them said that the stickers were an indication to inform people that there were children in the car in the event of an accident, I never meant for this to mean first responders.’
The debate even reached other platforms, where users have been discussing the true meaning of these stickers for years.
‘Apparently, it’s not for first responders at all,’ one commenter said. ‘They don’t look for it.’
‘False. It lets first responders know there should be a child located somewhere at the scene of the accident,’ another argued.
Some suggested that the stickers should be placed on the side of the car where the child is seated and include personal and medical information about the child.
‘I thought it was so people wouldn’t honk and wake the baby,’ another added.
‘They were designed to make other drivers aware and be more careful,’ someone else chimed.
‘It’s also to tell first responders to go looking for the baby if they don’t see a baby seat in the vehicle,’ another pointed out. ‘In case the whole seat was thrown from the vehicle.’
Jayde found the theories ‘interesting’, adding, ‘There is a lot of mixed feedback on this.’
To clarify the situation, the National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited (NRMA) delved into the history of the ‘baby on board’ stickers, which originated in the United States in the 1980s.
Michael Lerner, a former real estate investor, created the stickers after experiencing aggressive driving while transporting his 18-month-old nephew.
The stickers were intended to promote safer driving around vehicles with children, not as a signal to emergency services.
NSW Police confirmed this interpretation: 'The stickers are not for emergency services, but more of a notice to other drivers,’ a spokesperson clarified in an NRMA article.
‘Anyone using these signs must ensure they are not obstructing the driver’s view.’
Jason Chambers, General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, echoed this sentiment, explaining that the signs are meant to encourage caution among other road users.
‘Not having a baby on board sign on your car doesn't mean that emergency services won't look to see if a child was involved in a crash,’ he explained.
‘They look for any signs that indicate additional people may have been involved, including child car restraints or toys.’
Former paramedic and Founder of Tiny Hearts Education, Nikki Jurcutz, further debunked the myth in another social media video.
‘During my time as a paramedic, I was trained to assess the whole situation,’ she shared.
‘Paramedics aren’t just relying on a baby on board sign; they are looking for clues that a child may have been in the vehicle, like car seats and baby bags.’
‘Paramedics will thoroughly check all parts of the car and around the area too. The paramedics on the scene will be there assessing the full picture with or without the baby on board sign on the car,’ Nikki continued.
She further clarified that although many believe these signs were intended for first responders and to notify emergency services, it was ‘actually a myth’.
In conclusion, while ‘baby on board’ stickers may not serve the emergency purpose many believe, they still play a role in promoting safer driving habits around vehicles with young passengers.
Parents can rest assured that in the event of an accident, first responders are thoroughly trained to attend to all passengers, with or without a sticker indicating a baby is on board.
This discourse extends beyond road safety as innovative approaches to ensuring safety in various settings, including air travel, become more prominent.
Another Australian mum's clever plane seat maneuver sparked a sky-high debate, shedding light on the importance of proactive safety measures in all aspects of daily life.
We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with ‘baby on board’ stickers. Have you used them? Did you believe they were for emergency services? Join the conversation in the comments below, and let's keep the roads safe for all generations.
However, what do these signs actually mean, and are they as crucial in an emergency as some drivers believe?
A recent revelation by an Aussie mum has sparked a nationwide debate, leading to some surprising insights about these well-intentioned warnings.
Victorian mum Jayde Sandlant recently took to social media to share her newfound understanding of the ‘baby on board’ stickers.
She believed that the stickers were meant to alert passersby to check for a baby first in the event of an accident.
‘It’s literally a sticker to inform people if you get into an accident to go to the baby first,’ she shared.
‘Is this common knowledge? Because I didn’t know it.’
An Aussie mum's interpretation of ‘baby on board’ stickers stirred debate. Credits: Shutterstock
However, her post opened the floodgates to a myriad of responses, with many people offering their own interpretations of the stickers' purpose.
While some agreed with Sandlant's initial thought, others were quick to correct the misconception, pointing out that the stickers are not primarily intended for first responders—as they assumed Jayde said.
Jayde reiterated, however, that she was pertaining to civilian passersby, explaining ‘I was having a conversation with my friends when one of them said that the stickers were an indication to inform people that there were children in the car in the event of an accident, I never meant for this to mean first responders.’
The debate even reached other platforms, where users have been discussing the true meaning of these stickers for years.
‘Apparently, it’s not for first responders at all,’ one commenter said. ‘They don’t look for it.’
‘False. It lets first responders know there should be a child located somewhere at the scene of the accident,’ another argued.
Some suggested that the stickers should be placed on the side of the car where the child is seated and include personal and medical information about the child.
‘I thought it was so people wouldn’t honk and wake the baby,’ another added.
‘They were designed to make other drivers aware and be more careful,’ someone else chimed.
‘It’s also to tell first responders to go looking for the baby if they don’t see a baby seat in the vehicle,’ another pointed out. ‘In case the whole seat was thrown from the vehicle.’
Jayde found the theories ‘interesting’, adding, ‘There is a lot of mixed feedback on this.’
To clarify the situation, the National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited (NRMA) delved into the history of the ‘baby on board’ stickers, which originated in the United States in the 1980s.
Michael Lerner, a former real estate investor, created the stickers after experiencing aggressive driving while transporting his 18-month-old nephew.
The stickers were intended to promote safer driving around vehicles with children, not as a signal to emergency services.
NSW Police confirmed this interpretation: 'The stickers are not for emergency services, but more of a notice to other drivers,’ a spokesperson clarified in an NRMA article.
‘Anyone using these signs must ensure they are not obstructing the driver’s view.’
Jason Chambers, General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, echoed this sentiment, explaining that the signs are meant to encourage caution among other road users.
‘Not having a baby on board sign on your car doesn't mean that emergency services won't look to see if a child was involved in a crash,’ he explained.
‘They look for any signs that indicate additional people may have been involved, including child car restraints or toys.’
Former paramedic and Founder of Tiny Hearts Education, Nikki Jurcutz, further debunked the myth in another social media video.
‘During my time as a paramedic, I was trained to assess the whole situation,’ she shared.
‘Paramedics aren’t just relying on a baby on board sign; they are looking for clues that a child may have been in the vehicle, like car seats and baby bags.’
‘Paramedics will thoroughly check all parts of the car and around the area too. The paramedics on the scene will be there assessing the full picture with or without the baby on board sign on the car,’ Nikki continued.
She further clarified that although many believe these signs were intended for first responders and to notify emergency services, it was ‘actually a myth’.
In conclusion, while ‘baby on board’ stickers may not serve the emergency purpose many believe, they still play a role in promoting safer driving habits around vehicles with young passengers.
Parents can rest assured that in the event of an accident, first responders are thoroughly trained to attend to all passengers, with or without a sticker indicating a baby is on board.
This discourse extends beyond road safety as innovative approaches to ensuring safety in various settings, including air travel, become more prominent.
Another Australian mum's clever plane seat maneuver sparked a sky-high debate, shedding light on the importance of proactive safety measures in all aspects of daily life.
.png){kind=icon}
