4 minute read
Is your home fitted with smoke
Melbourne dads create life saving device It’s Your LifeIt’s Your Life
By Danielle Galvin
A group of Melbourne dads have joined forces to create a device they hope will save the lives of Australian children.
Father-of-two Andrew Orkin is one of the brains behind the Clever Elly device, a dual USB charger that plugs in to your car and reminds you each time you turn your car off to check the back seat. It's hoped the Clever Elly will prevent parents from accidentally leaving their child in a car, which can have fatal consequences.
There are 10 different verbal reminders on rotation.
The concept is simple, but Mr Orkin said it's all about building a "life-saving habit".
"It's almost like a voice inside your head to check the back seat," Mr Orkin said.
"It's become a simple, inexpensive device."
The device in place inside a car. The device in place inside a car.
Mr Orkin and two of his friends from high-school developed the device and believe every car should be fitted with the technology to remind parents and grandparents alike.
"The same way we put on a seatbelt, we should have this," he said.
During their research, the Melbourne dads discovered how easy it is for parents on auto-pilot to suffer from a memory lapse, and forget their child is
From left, Alex Vashchenko, Andrew Orkin and Sluv Yerusalimsky. Picture: Rob Carew
still strapped in their car seat.
He said for some parents, it's hard to come to terms with the fact that none of us are immune to these sorts of memory lapses.
It was an experience of his own that spurred him on to develop the Clever Elly.
"It's a good habit, it's a habit everyone needs to have," he said.
"What happened to me was I had a phone call from work and I was driving to my kid to daycare. I took a phone call and it was intense and during the call, I realised I had started driving to work. sti co us la
"I only realised by accident, my son made a sound in the back.
"It was a series of unfortunate and unlikely circumstances that can happen."
He said the long term goal is to make it standard in the automotive industry to have some sort of reminder to parents The technology is there, but he said there has to be a market for it.
"We don't want to make money off it, we just want to change the industry I guess," he said.
"The same way seatbelts took decades to introduce, this is a worthy device."
A safer home is a better home
RESEARCH commissioned by IKEA revealed one in four Australians do not have safety top of mind when it comes to making decisions about their home. However, almost half of Aussies (48.8%) admit they would like to be educated on the dangers and risks around the home.
In 2018, IKEA launched an app called 'Safer Home'. The app, which is available from the app store, helps consumers learn about key development milestones based on their child's age so that parents are aware of hazards and can make adjustments around the home accordingly.
When it comes to safety testing, no product is exempt.
When IKEA develops products for children, the first step is to see things the way children do.
Their world revolves around play and movement, and bumps and bruises along the way are a normal part of growing up - but serious injuries are unacceptable.
Through the IKEA product testing phase, the intended and unintended uses of products by children are carefully considered, to identify and minimise potential safety risks.
Each product goes through a long process of testing and will not be launched unless it meets the highest safety standards.
Five quick safety tips 1. Are all bookcases, wardrobes, chest of drawers and other storage furniture secured to the wall?
This is extremely important, even if you think your furniture won't tip. Be sure to secure it to the wall. 2. Lock it up!
To make sure little curious hands don't get hold of anything dangerous, use child safety locks on kitchen doors and drawers and child safety window locks to prevent falls. 3. Is there a first aid kit in the home and does everyone know where it is? Also check to make sure you have functioning fire extinguishers and a fire blanket. 4. Is your home fitted with smoke alarms? If yes, are the batteries charged? 5. For baby safety, check to make sure your baby cot and baby highchairs are safe and functioning properly. Check baby toys for possible choking hazards, especially the eyes on soft toys. And for baby care, be sure to use a safe baby bath and changing table.
