MEDIA RELEASE

DECEMBER 2013

Beware: Hubbards Kids Are About

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As the summer holidays approach, Hubbards is encouraging New Zealand drivers to keep an eye out for our adventurous kids playing outdoors by creating 500 signs with the message: Beware Of The Kids!

“Hooning around on bikes, climbing trees, cruising down the footpath on your scooter, swinging on a tyre, dive bombing off the wharf – that’s a Kiwi kid’s summer,” says Rebecca Bergs, Hubbards Marketing Manager.

“We all remember those long hot summers when we’d stay outdoors playing all day, only getting back in time for tea. We want to encourage kids to be kids and the great Kiwi public to slow down in their cars and just keep a watchful eye for kids lost in the moment.”

“The signs are also a good warning for grown ups to avoid the area if they don’t want to be caught up in the whirlwind of kids at play!” jokes Rebecca.

If you pop along to the Hubbards Facebook page or email knockknock@hubbards.co.nz, you can request your own sign to put up in your neighbourhood, street or local playground. But be quick, there are only 250 available. The other signs will be put up around the country where kids hang out, such as streets near playgrounds and at the entrances to caravan parks.

The message is a gentle yet timely reminder, given that driveway accidents are more common in summer, between December and February, when children are more likely to be playing outside.*

As a holiday reminder for parents, Hubbards also recommends this important driveway safety checklist**:
When you leave home, shut the door securely so kids can’t run outside after you.
Before driving off, make sure you know where the children are – parents often say they saw their child in a safe place before a driveway accident so check, check and check again.
If you’re on your own and need to move your car, it’s safer to have the children ride in the car with you – even if it’s just moving it along the driveway.
Most accidents happen when cars are reversing so check your blind spots.
Hold children firmly by the hand whenever a vehicle is being moved and always supervise them around vehicles.
If your driveway borders a play area, fence it.
Remember to keep kids out of carparks and off driveways this summer.

www.hubbards.co.nz
www.facebook.com/Hubbards

* Murphy, F., S. White and P. Morreau. 2002. “Driveway-related motor vehicle injuries in the paediatric population: A preventable tragedy”, The New Zealand Medical Journal. 115(1160): U148. Safekids. 2002. Home driveway injuries and fatalities in the Auckland region - See more at: http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/driveway-injury-prevention#sthash.tDZTdARR.dpuf.

** adapted from the www.kidshealth.org.nz website.

ENDS

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