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Few parents know the real meaning of the ‘Baby on Board’ sign placed on car windows.

Taking to Facebook recently, a mother shared a snap of a typical ‘Baby on Board’ sign after hearing people label them as ‘annoying’.

‘In case you don’t know the true purpose of these signs… no you’re not supposed to ‘drive slower’ around these people, no you’re not supposed to worship them or tread lightly around them because they have a baby,’ she wrote alongside the photo.

‘Baby on Board signs alert first responders that there is a person in the vehicle that is incapable of unbuckling themselves in the event of an accident. Do the EMTs need to look for a body that was possibly expelled from the vehicle?’

However police don’t back up her story.

‘The sign is not for emergency services, but more of a notice to other drivers. Anyone using these signs must ensure they are not obstructing the driver’s view,’ a spokesperson for NSW Police told the NRMA.

The post on Traffic & Community Updates – Australia Facebook page has attracted over 380 shares.

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  • Interesting the Emergency Services dont agree.
    In fact I think it was someones bright idea and they had several signs made and they sold like hot cakes hence making money for the person who came up with the idea. Plain and simple it was a money making venture.

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  • I didn’t realise that either but whenever I see the sign in the back of a car I just smile and feel happy for that person.

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  • I thought it was to give warning to other drivers to go slower and be cautious as babies can be a distraction to the person driving the vehicle. But this mum has given another good reason for the sign, even if the police don’t back her theory up I think it’s a great thing for if an accident happens.

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  • I did just assume it was like a community service announcement. Be wary and be aware there is a baby on board in case it is information that you need to know.

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  • I have heard that’s what they are used for. I never used them though.

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  • I believe that the Baby onboard is an excellent idea and I agree with the mum’s comment in that they the children are more vulnerable should an accident occur (God forbid) So it makes me more aware and take extra care as a baby or child in there.

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  • I’ve heard this too, and that the sign should be hung on the same side of the car that the baby seat is in so First Responders know which side of the vehicle to go to first. Don’t know how true it is, but if I were in a car crash I’d damn sure want them looking for my son before worrying about me. Sometimes every minute counts.

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  • Biggest problem with this idea is that the sign never gets taken off once it is put on the window. Some poor SES or Ambo looking for something that wasn’t there in the first place is a bad alert in my opinion. Think it’s more likely mum is alerting the world to the fact she has a baby in my opinion.

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  • I never gave thought to the meaning of it

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  • Though annoying to some people, this sign is really needed. When our younger children could not talk for them selves we had one that replaced the “baby” with twins. We do at all times when carrying our pets have a sign on our van also.

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  • I never knew that but it certainly makes sense. Very clever!

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  • He probably was there, just not photographed. I thought they said we won\’t see him until after his christening.

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  • Whatever the real reason is of this sign, if it saves 1 life we should be happy for it !

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  • I was trained during my Senior First Aid course many years ago that the signs were for first responders to double check for the possibility of a baby or child potentially thrown into a small area, like under a seat, and out of sight of someone checking for passengers. I still remember the story which they said prompted the signs about a mother driving with her baby in a baby seat and involved in a very serious accident which left her in hospital and unconscious for quite some time. When she finally regained consciousness and asked about her baby they had no idea what she was talking about. When they checked the vehicle, which by this time was in a car scrap yard, it took some searching to find the baby still strapped into the car seat and wedged underneath the front seat of the vehicle. Unfortunately it was too late by this time. The signs are not meant to only be displayed when the child is actually on board but is simply meant to have first responders double check the possibility that a baby or child could be either in the car or thrown from the vehicle. The fact that first responders are not being taught this is extremely disappointing to hear, although a “spokesperson for the NSW Police” is probably not the right person who would actually be trained in first response.


    • Wow.. that is so sad to read!



      • A sad story indeed. It shows even more so the importance for the EMTs to check for a baby.

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  • If they were for ES they would only work if you took them down whenever the baby wasn’t in the car and I don’t know a single person who does that.

    Reply

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