Mother Creates Seat Belt Covers That Would Warn Emergency Workers About Children’s Health Issues
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Sometimes, a simple worrying thought can unleash a viral success. That happened to an Australian mom, Natalie Bell, when she thought about her daughter, Shae, getting in an accident. It prompted the woman to create a seat belt cover for the child that would warn whoever was helping her about the girl’s health problems. Overnight, the idea went viral, and Bell received thousands of requests for a similar seat belt cover.
Bell, who is from Victoria, Australia, owns a business called Personalised By Nat where she creates personalized items, with most of the products being for parents and special needs kids. She decided to create a simple velcro seat belt cover with bright, bold letters standing out on a white background to make it easy to read.
Australian mom created these seat belt covers to warn emergency services about children’s health issues
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Image credits: Natalie Bell
On June 5, Natalie Bell posted her creation on Facebook with this caption:
“I always wonder what would happen if I was in a car accident with my daughter in the car and I was unable to let the doctors know that my daughter could not have a MRI due to having a cochlear implant, now I don’t need to worry about that with these seat belt covers. These can be made for any special needs that the medical team will need to know if you are unable to tell them.”
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Image credits: Natalie Bell
The covers can be attached to seat belts or other places like backpack straps with ease. Although Shae is deaf and her cover indicates that, Natalie offers a variety of covers for various health issues and genetic disorders. Those include autism, diabetes, down syndrome, with some covers indicating that a child is non-verbal or may resist help in a medical emergency.
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Bell points out that while medical bracelets that most of the people with health issues wear are useful, they often get covered up by clothes. That’s why her seat belt covers stand out and make it clear for anyone approaching, especially considering that in case of an accident, the first people to respond and help might not be medical professionals.
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Image credits: Natalie Bell
Natalie sells the covers on her site and is offering them for $15. Though she warns that due to high demand, it might take her around 2-4 weeks to deliver the product.
Image credits: Natalie Bell
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These are great, good job Mom
Not a new idea. Plus, as someone on the spectrum I do not like the backpack ones. I prefer the other forms produced by emergencyid who highlight that someone has a condition that may need consideration in a medical emergency but don't SHOUT what that issue is. I expect a lot of people will disagree but who likes to be labeled? Who wants this to be the thing that the world sees about you first? The emergencyid ones are so much better.
I think the backpack ones are good for small children, so you know how to help them if they get lost and are nonverbal
I actually agree with you. Though probably a hint how to speak to a child is maybe helpful without a stigmatized label/diagnosis
well said. Shouting ones will tend to attract bullies, IMO. Last thing that kid needs tbh.
What parent would label their kid? I’m sure anyone who LIVES with their kid would use logical discretion to what would make them feel bad.
Thats a brilliant idea... My friend put a sticker on their kids seat in case they were ever in a car crash, but now that the kid is too big for the seat we were wondering what could be done^^ Smart idea, well done and they look nice. Plus, they make the seatbelt more comfortable^^
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That's what you have bracelets & necklaces with all possible medical and practical instructions are for. On child seat can just cause confusion if they're not sitting in their own chair, are thrown out or ran out, or you're carrying a friend. Plus what fraction of your life are you in the car vs. elsewhere out-of-house? A bracelet is always there, even in swimming pool.
As Joannie said, it is possible to have more layers of protection for your child. Plus, as the article already states, bracelets can be covered up by clothing. As a side note, the vast majority of the first people on the scene are NOT first responders/emergency personnel, so they very likely will not think to look for a medical bracelet or necklace, and many of those with special needs do not tolerate any type of jewelry.
You can have both Marcellus. This is just one more tool.
Very clever idea! Hope this idea gets implemented in many more countries :-)
These are great, good job Mom
Not a new idea. Plus, as someone on the spectrum I do not like the backpack ones. I prefer the other forms produced by emergencyid who highlight that someone has a condition that may need consideration in a medical emergency but don't SHOUT what that issue is. I expect a lot of people will disagree but who likes to be labeled? Who wants this to be the thing that the world sees about you first? The emergencyid ones are so much better.
I think the backpack ones are good for small children, so you know how to help them if they get lost and are nonverbal
I actually agree with you. Though probably a hint how to speak to a child is maybe helpful without a stigmatized label/diagnosis
well said. Shouting ones will tend to attract bullies, IMO. Last thing that kid needs tbh.
What parent would label their kid? I’m sure anyone who LIVES with their kid would use logical discretion to what would make them feel bad.
Thats a brilliant idea... My friend put a sticker on their kids seat in case they were ever in a car crash, but now that the kid is too big for the seat we were wondering what could be done^^ Smart idea, well done and they look nice. Plus, they make the seatbelt more comfortable^^
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
That's what you have bracelets & necklaces with all possible medical and practical instructions are for. On child seat can just cause confusion if they're not sitting in their own chair, are thrown out or ran out, or you're carrying a friend. Plus what fraction of your life are you in the car vs. elsewhere out-of-house? A bracelet is always there, even in swimming pool.
As Joannie said, it is possible to have more layers of protection for your child. Plus, as the article already states, bracelets can be covered up by clothing. As a side note, the vast majority of the first people on the scene are NOT first responders/emergency personnel, so they very likely will not think to look for a medical bracelet or necklace, and many of those with special needs do not tolerate any type of jewelry.
You can have both Marcellus. This is just one more tool.
Very clever idea! Hope this idea gets implemented in many more countries :-)