Reception child on school trip in front seat of parents car with airbag

[aintnomountainhighenough]

I would like other mumsnetters thoughts on a situation that has happened today that I am very upset about. My DD has been on a school outing. I offered to drive but was told there were enough parents driving to take the children to and from the venue. My DD told me tonight that she was in a car with 2 other children and was sat in the front seat. Alarm bells started ringing, I never let my children sit in the front. I popped around to see the parent who she came home with and have found that she was put in the front seat of a car with an airbag, she was 'chosen' because she was the tallest. The TA who put the child in the front of the car took the child of the mum who was driving my DD in the back of her car. To say I am upset is an understatement. Of course I will raise this on Monday but what am I over reacting. Opinions please.

I astounded that so few people knew that airbags were dangerous to children in the front seat. Saying that I think I got my knowledge from an epsiode of ER and I remember googling after to see if it was correct.

I remember that episode of ER!

I think alot of people just aren't aware of hte dangers of airbags.

I suppose it never crossed my mind because my car didn't have airbags.

Hello again, I thought this thread had finished Saturday morning and have just noticed it has moved on. Given the nature of the comments I wanted to comment again.

Stitch, we are all entitled to our point of view however I am amazed at yours. These are the facts:

• the highest area of risk in any school trip is a road accident. Therefore all risk assessment should include this area.
• I and a number of other mothers offered to drive, we were told we weren't needed.
• My DD was placed in the front seat of a car with an airbag that was turned on when the daughter of the mother was in another car in the rear and there were other seats available in other cars. She was put here because she was the tallest, the seat wasn't moved back, the mother of car didn't even know she had an airbag in the front
• It is known and indicate in car seat handbooks that airbags can cause serious injury. Whilst they are important as they save many lives, they can be fatal to a child.

I have spoken to a few people over the weekend and they have said to me that whilst they may put their own children in the front they would never put anyone elses child unless it was absolutely an emergency.

The school is responsible for my childs safety, I am not stupied, I accept accidents happen however to me this shows a complete lack of common sense, lack of care of my daughter and lack of adequate planning.

Stitch, you are correct I will be complaining to the head and the governors because then I will be making other parents aware and therefore able to make decisions about transport for their child. Risk assessment is about minimising the risk - take a minute to think about the consequences of what could have happened and could happen to another child unless a bit of common sense and care is taken in the future.

I am glad that other mumsnetters don't think I am being pfb. My post was to ask opinions, whilst I expected to get somepeople saying they weren't bothered I am amazed to get a posting that shows a complete lack of care for the safety of a child.

For those of you who asked for an update - here it is. The head has told me that they have done nothing wrong. It is not illegal to put a child in the front of a car in a car seat with the airbag turned on. She claimed she could find no recommendations on this either although these will be landing on her desk tomorrow. To say I am gobsmacked by her attitude is an understatement. So for all of you who are sending little ones on school trips who want to ensure their dcs safety - either drive yourself or ensure that your child will be travelling in the back.

Definately get in touch with your LEA - they will have guidance for schools on this.

i agree with you, mountain

my dad's car has an airbag feature that cannot be switched off and neither he nor I have ever let any of my DSs sit in that, even though DS1 is nearly 9 now

i would be very angry in your shoes, especially given that you and other parents offered to help out with the driving

Mountain: your head has made me so cross!!!!!

When I was at school, my mum refused to let me travel in the school minibus, and wrote to the head to say so. The head was rude to me in return (yes, to me), and said I should tell my mum that no child had ever been hurt in a minibus. Shortly afterwards, several school children (not from my school) were killed in a minibus crash...
After that, they brought in rules about seat-belts in minibuses, and drivers having to have mini-bus training. But do they really have to wait until things become law before they stop putting other people's children at risk? Stick to your guns, Mountain - you are right about this!!

aintnomountain - you are right to complain -

see here for info on the situation www.childcarseats.org.uk/faqs/index.htm#legal

I just feel like crying at the frustration I feel. I am definitely PFB about my children and always expect bad things to happen, but this is just plain indefensible. DO NOT LET THIS GO.

I don't think yabu at all - I would take it higher than the head to the LEA if you get no joy.
Like others I am shocked that they are taking 5 year olds in parents cars on a school trip. I've only ever experienced school trips with bus transport (with seat belts).
Also, there seems to have been no reason to put your dd in the front if the TA was on the back seat? Was she in a booster?
So no, I think they have a very strange view of safety.

Mountain, agree with approaching the LEA (and governors?) if the head is intransigent. She is clearly, like many people, ignorant of the dangers of airbags. That is no defence - you have raised the issue, she should have checked the facts before responding. And she should now be saying 'I didn't realise, thanks for drawing this to my attention, we will change our policies for future trips.' It is completely unacceptable for a school to put a child in danger in this way.

Those who argue you are being PFB-ish clearly haven't bothered to check their facts, or read the links about the dangers of airbags. Just because they are described as a safety feature doesn't mean they are safe for everyone - they can do enough damage to an adult female (because we are generally smaller and lighter than men), let alone a small child.

I am really glad i read this thread as I have been putting my ten year old in the front seat

as she is only two inches shorter than me I didn't think it mattered

will be putting her in the back from now on

Thanks everyone. Cupsoftea - thanks for the link, I included that fact sheet in the small mound of paperwork I sent her - ROSPA, Deparment of Transport, the AA - to name a few. The letter has gone to the governors now and I am hoping to get some commitment that this was wrong and will not happen again.

Well done you, keep us posted.