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FAQs and Figures         What IS a Hug-it?

A Hug-it is a brand new invention which gives you peace of mind and keeps your toddler safe and secure in seats.

All kinds of seats, from child seats in cars to high chairs to cycle wear. Any harness, anywhere.

A Hug-it can be removed from one harness and applied to another, it is strong, durable and clean.

What is it? It's a hook - but not just any hook.

It makes sure you put harnesses on properly - and keeps kids in those harnesses until YOU release them.

It has a tried and tested combination of:

  • Resilience, impact absorption and hygiene.
  • A very special shape.
  • With tried and tested computer designed slots designed to keep straps just where they should be... without getting in the way of adult fitting or release.
  • Self locating in the best position for safety and comfort.
  • Pliable but strong - will fit to belts straps and  harnesses, padded or not.
  • Gives support and protection not just to the harness but to the wearer.
  • Can be used with adult seat belts too!

Here it is:                                                                     .......And here it isn't:                                   

                         

  • Frequently asked Questions... and answers too

"Isn't the plastic hard? I'm worried my child will get injured with it"

The Hug-it has been designed along the lines of rigid chest clips mandatory in the USA:

In  a crash or quick deceleration, the shoulders and sternum ( breastbone)  must take the force -The Hug-it's shape helps dissipate impact forces on the breastbone. 

 The alternative is your child getting their arms out or getting out the car seat , so that in a crash the head is flung forward and crashes into the knees, or other point of contact, or the child turns into a missile in the car.

 

“I’m only in the car for 10 minutes for most of my journeys, do I need a  Hug-it?”

 Most car accidents occur driving over short distances at low speeds. At just 30 mph, there is a 75% chance of a child being injured or killed in an impact.  There is more traffic on the road these days……….a busy, distracted driver is likely, at some time to have a bump.

 

 “Is it a bother to put on the Hug-it?.”

No, it's no bother, as the Hug-it is put on and taken off using the same actions you normally use to put your child in and out of her child seat.  Each year 15,000 child passengers are injured or killed; at 5 mph, a poorly restrained child in the back can be catapulted forward with enough force to kill an adult sitting in the front.  Having paid a fortune for a car seat it is worth ensuring your child can’t get out of it by using a Hug-it.

 

 “My son removes his shoulder straps in his car seat but is strapped at the waist is this sufficient in restraining my son in an accident?”

Children of 5 and below have a greater proportion of their body weight in their head, their centre of gravity is shifted upwards and therefore their stability is altered considerably.  Restraint at the waist may contain your child in an accident, but the unrestrained upper body will ricochet, hitting his knees, a car door or the front seat causing serious injury and the force on his tummy can cause internal abdominal injury.

 

“My 24 month old only removes one arm from her child car seat to be like her 8 year old brother”

 Again, she is under 5 years old and has a higher centre of gravity that will cause her to topple.  Removing only one arm leaves a child susceptible to rotational and shearing injuries caused by merely bumping your car. However the Hug-it is meant for 12 to 24 month olds, she may not get many months out of it.

 

"Is Hug-it escape proof?"

Hug-it works with the safety harness to keep your child safe - it is not designed to work with straps that are loose, an unfastened buckle or a child not properly secured in the harness. If the child can get out of Hug-it, this is a signal to you that the straps are too loose or you have bought  a Hug-it for a child too old for it.

 

“My child is always escaping from his buggy and high chair, can I use the Hug-it for these?”

 Yes, the Hug-it is transferable and can be used for all 5 point harnesses.  Children are still predisposed to injury from a buggy or high chair, and it would be wise to restrain them properly.

 

 “Surely the police will realise, my child’s escape from his car seat is not my fault?”

 By law, a child of any age must be properly and effectively restrained; the responsibility lies with the adult.  Presently, the fine is a minimum of £40 (plus points on your licence), considerably more than the cost of a Hug-it.

 

 “My parents take care of my children, is the Hug-it easy for them to use?

If your parents can operate the locking mechanism of the car seat, they can easily use the Hug-it.  Just remember that children can't get out when the buckle is locked, so please don't try to get the Hug-it on whilst the buckle is locked! 

 

 “I am concerned that should the worst happen and the Hug-it has to be removed in an accident by someone unfamiliar to the device, could it be easily removed?

The material of Hug-it is made to be transparent or translucent - you should always be able to see the straps so removal is obvious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child Passenger Safety- some statistics from the Centre for Disease Control USA

Overview

Motor vehicle injuries are the greatest public health problem facing children today. In fact, they are the leading cause of death among them (CDC 2003).
 
 
Occurrence and Consequences

  • In the United States during 2002, 1,543 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 227,000 were injured. That’s an average of 4 deaths and 622 injuries each day  .
     
  • Of the children ages 0 to 14 years who were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2002, 50% were unrestrained . Of the children ages 4 years and younger who were fatally injured in 2002, 40% were unrestrained .

 
Risk Factors

  • One out of four of all occupant deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years involve a drinking driver. More than two-thirds of these fatally injured children ride with the drinking drivers .
     
  • Restraint use among young children often depends upon the driver’s restraint use. Almost 40% of children riding with unbelted drivers were themselves unrestrained .
     
  • Many children who ride in child safety seats are improperly secured. A survey of more than 17,500 children found that only 15% of children in safety seats were correctly harnessed into correctly installed seats .

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