Parents are always going to worry. It’s what they do. Their little ones are precious and irreplaceable, so it’s only natural for concern to creep into every corner of parenting life.
So of course parents want to do everything they can to keep their kids as safe as possible. And for kids with medical conditions, there’s always an extra level that has to be taken into account. One mother understands that all too well, and she has taken action with something that can help other parents, too.
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Australia’s Natalie Bell, a mother of five who runs a business that personalizes products, is an overnight sensation.
One of her passions is creating products that make the world a bit more accessible for her daughter, Shae, who lost her hearing as a baby.
The above Auslan clock, which shows the time in sign language, is one such creation. But the clock is taking a back seat to another creation of Nat’s that focuses on safety.
Concerned about what might happen to Shae in the event of a car accident, Nat had the idea of making a seat belt cover with medical info on it.
Because Shae has a coclear implant, she can’t have an MRI, which Nat feared medical staff might miss in an emergency. Her seat belt covers ought to help prevent any such mix-ups.
Basically, they’re like medical alert bracelets, only larger and more prominent.
“It’s a safety thing…because anyone can be a first responder at the scene of an accident,” Nat told ABC News. “So having the details and they’re clear, they’re noticeable, it’s the first thing you’ll see when you open up that car door.”
Of course, because customization is what Nat’s business is all about, she can make seat belt covers for any child with a medical condition first responders might need to know about.
The covers, which wrap around seat belts and fasten with Velcro, are brightly colored to stand out and include a relevant symbol — although the puzzle pieces are somewhat controversial in the autism community, they are recognizable to first responders.
The covers also conveniently slip over a backpack’s straps.
Because accidents don’t always happen in the family car — it could be a school bus or a relative’s car — that information can travel with the child and not just the vehicle.
When Nat posted her first few designs on her Facebook page, the post went viral.
She received more than 200,000 reactions and 750,000 shares. Parents the world over have latched onto her idea, and she’s been overwhelmed with orders. “Overnight my phone did not stop,” she said. “I did not expect it to go worldwide.”
Experts are just as excited about them as parents are.
Craig Bennett of Diabetes Victoria told ABC News that the seat belt covers are a “great idea,” especially for kids with type 1 diabetes, who need insulin regularly.
“If there was an accident, it could be helpful for paramedics, bystanders or medical responders to be aware of relevant health conditions for those involved in accidents,” he said.
Understandably, keeping up with the sudden demand is a bit challenging for Nat.
Her website says that customers should allow for an extra 2-4 weeks for delivery due to high demand.
Check out Nat’s website right here if you’re interested.
h/t ABC News
