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http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/35/4/155
Pediatrics in Review is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly
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Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007. Copyright 2014 by the American Academy of
Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0191-9601.
Article
injury prevention
Car Safety
Nichole L. Hodges, MPH,*
Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH*
Educational Gap
The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention released a revised Policy Statement and Technical Report on child passenger safety in
2011; (1)(2) however, confusion and lack of knowledge about the recommendations persist among some clinicians and parents.
Author Disclosure
Ms Hodges and
Dr Smith have
disclosed no financial
relationships relevant
to this article. This
commentary does not
contain a discussion of
an unapproved/
investigative use of
a commercial product/
Objectives
1. Identify the appropriate child restraint system based on the age and weight of an
infant or child.
2. Discuss the special considerations for preterm and low-birth-weight infants in child
safety seats.
3. Identify noncrash vehicle-related hazards for young children.
4. Describe recommended graduated driver licensing restrictions for teen drivers.
device.
Introduction
Abbreviations
AAP:
BPB:
CPS:
CPST:
CSS:
GDL:
LATCH:
In the United States, motor vehiclerelated crashes are the leading cause of death for children and teens, starting at 3 years and older. (3) Despite signicant reductions in crash rates
since the mid-1970s, motor vehicle crashes continue to take a substantial toll on society in
terms of crash-related mortality and morbidity, as well as associated medical and indirect
costs. (4) Properly used child safety seats (CSSs) have been reported to be highly efcacious
in the reduction of motor vehicle crashrelated injuries among children. It is estimated that
using a forward-facing CSS can reduce the risk of serious injury to 1- to 4-year-olds in
a crash by up to 78% compared with using a seat belt alone. (5) Unfortunately, not all children are currently being protected by CSSs when they ride in a vehicle. Only 65% of US
children 4 to 7 years of age are properly restrained in a CSS or belt-positioning booster
(BPB) seat when they ride, and of the remaining children in this age group, 10% ride completely unrestrained in the vehicle. (6) Although older children and teens may have outgrown their CSSs and BPBs, they are not immune to the dangers of motor vehicle
related crashes. In 2010 alone, 2406 teens 13 to 18 years of age died in motor vehicle
crashes in the United States. (3)
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of child passenger safety (CPS) and
teen driving best practice recommendations, with a focus on the appropriate stages of
CSS use. For more detailed information, readers are encouraged to refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Policy Statement and Technical Report on this topic. (1)(2)
Epidemiology
In 2011, an estimated 387,678 children in the United States
younger than 19 years were treated in hospital emergency
departments for injuries resulting from motor vehicle
crashes. (3) Among children, the head is the most frequently
injured region of the body during motor vehicle crashes.
This is important given the potential that head injuries have
*Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Columbus, OH.
Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
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car safety
2.
3.
4.
5.
Risk Reduction
Despite the high incidence of motor vehicle crash injuries
in the United States, there are effective known countermeasures available to help families protect children in
a crash. CSSs are readily available throughout the country
and are offered at a variety of price points to accommodate a multitude of budgets. CSSs are highly effective
when used correctly. Children 2 to 6 years of age are
28% less likely to be killed in a motor vehicle crash if they
are restrained in a CSS rather than a seat belt. (7) Likewise, the use of BPBs rather than a seat belt alone lowers
the risk of injury among children 4 to 7 years of age by
59% in a crash. (8)
Each state in the United States has CPS laws; however,
these laws vary signicantly from state to state, and in
many states the laws fall short of best practice recommendations. Currently, only 2 states, Florida and South
Dakota, do not have booster seat laws in place to promote motor vehicle protection for older children who
have outgrown their CSSs. It is important for clinicians
to be familiar with the CPS laws in their state.
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they are ideal for toddlers and families that may not be
able to afford the added expense of the infant-only seats.
As long as a newborn is not below the minimum weight
requirement of the convertible seat and the parent is able
to get a snug t with the harness, a convertible seat can be
used right from birth. Convertible seats get their name
from the fact that they can be used rear-facing initially
and then installed forward-facing as the child grows.
Most convertible CSSs now have rear-facing weight limits
of at least 40 lb, allowing parents to keep children rearfacing longer.
Given the current emphasis on keeping children rearfacing longer, many parents worry about the safety and
comfort of their toddlers. Parents may be concerned that
their child will be more likely to incur injuries to the legs
and feet in a crash or that their child will be uncomfortable. Fortunately, there is no evidence of increased risk of
lower-extremity injuries among children who are in
a crash while riding rear-facing in a CSS. Further, the
rear-facing position does not seem to be problematic
for young children, and this concern about discomfort
seems to manifest primarily from the parents rather than
the children.
Like all children younger than 13 years, rear-facing infants and toddlers should be placed in a rear seat of the
vehicle.
One additional note about infants and CSSs: parents
may be tempted to use rear-facing infant-only CSSs as
seats or sleeping devices outside the vehicle; however,
CSSs are designed to be used only for travel. Thousands
of infants have been injured as a result of falls from elevated surfaces while sitting in their CSSs. (2) Also, given
that infants often fall asleep in their CSSs, on arriving at
their destination some parents will place the sleeping infant directly in a crib or on another soft surface, CSS and
all. This is a dangerous situation because the CSS could
easily tip over, putting the child at risk of suffocation, or
the infant could slide into a slouched position in the CSS,
potentially compromising the childs airway.
car safety
injury prevention
car safety
belt, rather than a lap belt alone. The combined lap and
shoulder belt provides better protection in a crash and reduces the risk of abdominal injuries. Again, the lap portion of the seat belt should be worn low over the hips and
thighs, and the shoulder belt should cross the middle of
the chest and shoulder and never be worn under the arm
or behind the back.
Recommending a CSS
Aside from suggesting the appropriate type of CSS to parents (rear-facing, forward-facing with a harness, or
BPB), clinicians can also promote best practice recommendations by offering the following advice to parents
about choosing a CSS:
It is important to recognize that all CSSs sold in
the United States are required to meet the same
federal safety standards. Parents should not think
that their child will be unprotected if they cannot
afford one of the most expensive CSSs on the
market.
Used CSSs with an unknown history are not recommended. Second-hand CSSs may be recalled, expired,
or missing instructions or parts that may be difcult to
determine just by looking. More importantly, the CSS
may have been in a crash and therefore could be unsafe
for future use.
There are a wide variety of CSSs on the market. Parents should be encouraged to choose the CSS that ts
their child, ts their vehicle, and is one that they feel
condent that they can use correctly each and every
time.
Parents in cold climates should be advised that bulky
coats and snowsuits are not recommended for use with
CSSs because the extra material can make it difcult to
tighten the harness properly, which will decrease the
effectiveness of the CSS in the event of a crash and
can increase the likelihood of injury.
CSS Installation
Installing a CSS is no easy task, as evidenced by the fact
that most CSSs that are examined at car seat check events
Special Circumstances
Preterm and low-birth-weight infants are a population of
particular concern within the eld of CPS. Given that infants are being sent home from the hospital after birth
much sooner and at much lower weights than in the past,
it is important that parents pay extra attention to the selection and installation of the CSS if their infant falls into
these special populations. Not all CSSs are appropriate for
low-birth-weight infants. Often CSS manufacturers
injury prevention
designate a minimum weight for use of their seats, frequently 4 or 5 lb. Parents with infants weighing less than
4 lb at discharge will need a CSS recommended for lower
weights or from birth.
Because preterm infants are at increased risk of oxygen desaturation, apnea, and bradycardia, particularly
when in semireclined positions, the AAP recommends
that preterm infants successfully complete a car seat test
or challenge before being released from the hospital.
During the car seat test, the infant is secured in his/her
own CSS for a designated period, typically at least 90
minutes, during which time the infant is monitored to
determine if he/she has stable cardiorespiratory function. If an infant fails to pass the car seat test, a car
bed may be recommended for transportation. For preterm and low-birth-weight infants who will be going
home in a rear-facing CSS, particular attention must
be paid to the recline angle during installation because
an overly upright position may result in neck exion
with respiratory distress. (9)
Children with special short-term or long-term health
care needs are another important population to consider
when discussing CPS recommendations. Given the wide
variety of physical, developmental, and behavioral health
care needs that may be relevant to choosing and installing
an appropriate CSS, an extensive discussion of this topic is
beyond the scope of this review. However, there are 2 key
items that all clinicians should be aware of: (1) a child
with special health care needs may not need a special
CSS; many parents are able to meet their childs needs
with an off-the-shelf CSS, often at a savings of hundreds
of dollars; and (2) resources are available for individuals
seeking more information on this topic. The AAP has
a separate policy statement specic to the topic of transporting children with special health care needs. In addition, CPSTs and childrens hospitals can typically provide
additional assistance specic to children with special
health care needs.
car safety
injury prevention
car safety
Summary
On the basis of strong research evidence, motor
vehiclerelated crashes are a significant cause of
morbidity and mortality among children and teens in
the United States. (1)(2)(3)(4)
On the basis of strong research evidence, child
passenger safety can be viewed as consisting of 4
steps, with each transition resulting in a reduction in
protection for the occupant. (1)(2)
On the basis of strong research evidence, some
populations, including preterm and low-birth-weight
infants and children with special health care needs,
may require extra assistance to provide for their child
passenger safety needs. (9)
On the basis of strong research evidence, parents
should be alerted to noncrash vehicle-related hazards
because these can also cause injury and death. (10)
On the basis of strong research evidence, teen drivers
are at higher risk for motor vehiclerelated crashes;
however, there are known effective strategies to
reduce injury crashes among this population. (4)
Key References
(additional references can be found online)
1. Durbin DR; Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. Child passenger safety. Pediatrics. 2011;127(4):788793
Suggestions-for-Parents.aspx
Spanish: http://www.healthychildren.org/spanish/safety-prevention/on-the-go/paginas/car-safety-seats-and-obese-
children-suggestions-for-parents.aspx
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/First-Aid-Supplies-for-your-Car.aspx
Spanish: http://www.healthychildren.org/spanish/safety-prevention/on-the-go/paginas/first-aid-supplies-for-your-car.
aspx
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Baby-Carriers-Always-Use-in-the-Car.aspx
(English only)
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Air-Bag-Safety.aspx
Spanish: http://www.healthychildren.org/spanish/safety-prevention/on-the-go/paginas/air-bag-safety.aspx
injury prevention
car safety
1. Which of the following best describes the use of car safety seats (CSSs) in the United States?
A. Only 65% of US children ages 4 to 7 years are properly restrained in a CSS or belt-positioning booster
(BPB) seat when they ride.
B. More than 30% of children ride completely unrestrained in motor vehicles.
C. The use of CSSs reduces the risk of serious injury to 1- to 4-year-olds in a crash by less than 50%.
D. Not all states require the use of CSSs for children.
E. CSSs decrease morbidity but not mortality.
2. Which states do not have booster seat laws in place for children who have outgrown their CSS?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
3. When should children stop using their BPB seat and begin to use the vehicles lap and shoulder belt?
A. When the parent is comfortable with the transition.
B. When the child is 6 years old.
C. When the child is 4 ft 9 in tall and 8 to 12 years of age.
D. When the child is tall enough to be able to look out the side window.
E. When the child can buckle and unbuckle the seat belt by themselves.
4. How long can a 2-year-old remain in a rear-facing CSS in the back seat?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
5. Which of the following is true about CSSs sold in the United States?
A. Federal safety standards for CSSs vary by state.
B. Low-cost CSSs meet the same federal safety standards as very expensive CSSs.
C. Used CSSs are suitable for resale for another childs use.
D. CSSs are designed to be used with bulky clothing, such as heavy coats and snowsuits.
E. Low-cost CSSs do not provide adequate protection from injury.
Car Safety
Nichole L. Hodges and Gary A. Smith
Pediatrics in Review 2014;35;155
DOI: 10.1542/pir.35-4-155
References
This article cites 6 articles, 3 of which you can access for free at:
http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/35/4/155#BIBL
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