A Caithness youngster has donated her birthday money to a drive to improve safety for the far north mums who face marathon treks to take their new-borns home from hospital.
Guests who went along to Amy Smith’s fifth birthday party yesterday were invited not to bring gifts but instead consider donating to the appeal to buy a stock of layback car safety seats.
Mum Denise said her family is keen to support the campaign by Caithness Health Action Team (Chat) to buy a stock of the safety seats.
Within a couple of hours of its launch, enough money had been pledged to buy three.
Amy heard her mum and dad Stuart speaking about the response and wanted to do her bit.
Mrs Smith said: “Everybody knows somebody a mum from this area whose had a baby in Raigmore and is faced with the long trek back home. The journey needs to be as safe and comfortable as possible.
“We explained this to Amy who may only be five but she’s quite switched on and she was more than happy to donate all her birthday money to the cause.”
Mrs Smith, 42, who works in a supermarket in Thurso, said her daughter received presents from close family members at the party in the family home at Half Acre, Lyth.
Amy attends Keiss nursery and is preparing to start in the village primary school after the summer.
Chat secretary Maria Aitken yesterday said the group has been very much touched by the initiative of Amy and her family.
She said the three seats have been ordered and should arrive shortly when it is hoped to arrange for Amy to hand out one of the first.
Mrs Aitken said: “We’re going to begin with three seats and then see what the demand is for them.
“It’s not just obtaining the seats but we’re going to have to manage them, ensure they remain hygienic and we’ve contacted NHS Highland to see if we can find a place to store them.”
Chat has highlighted that when conventional upright baby seats are used, it is recommended drivers should stop for breaks every half-hour – not something which is ideal on the 100 mile-plus trip from Inverness to Caithness.
The issue has arisen after two incidents, most recently when a new-born suffered a spasm en route from hospital in Edinburgh to the family home in Falkirk.
