Nonfatal Injuries and Restraint Use Among Child Passengers – United States, 2004

This article reports on a study of the nonfatal injuries and restraint use among child passengers in the United States in 2004. For this report, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) was expanded to collect additional information about injuries and restraint use for child passengers aged less than 12 years, who were involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVC) during 2004 and who were examined in 15 emergency departments (EDs). Results showed that of the children injured in MVCs, 45% were either not restrained or inappropriately restrained. Most inappropriate restraint use occurred among children aged 4-8 years who were placed prematurely in seatbelts. The percentage of unrestrained children who were hospitalized was three times that of restrained children. The results of this study underscore the need for restraint use for child passengers, which can reduce their risks for multiple injuries and hospitalization. An attached commentary reviews the limitations of the study then concludes by reiterating that child restraint laws in all 50 states should be updated to be consistent with current NHTSA guidelines and vigorously enforced. Booster seat use should be promoted for children who have outgrown child safety seats but have not yet reached the appropriate age or height for wearing lap/shoulder belts.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00910031
• Authors:
  • Shults, R A
  • Greenspan, A
  • Dellinger, A
  • Haileyesus, T
  • Lee, K C
• Publication Date: 2006-6-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 624-627
• Serial:
  • Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue Number: 22
  • Publisher: Department of Health and Human Services
  • ISSN: 0149-2195
  • EISSN: 1545-861x
  • Serial URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Booster seats; Child restraint systems; Children; Crash injuries; Demographics; Fatalities; Hospital emergency rooms; Infants; Preschool children; Seat belts; Statistics
• Identifier Terms: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System
• Uncontrolled Terms: 4-8 Year old children
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01045342
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 2007 7:11PM