Injuries among 4- to 9-year-old restrained motor vehicle occupants by seat location and crash impact site
P. Agran, D. Winn and D. Dunkle
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Four-to-9-year-old children are a special group with respect to motor
vehicle occupant restraints. Having outgrown child safety seats, they are
often placed in adult seat belts. This study was undertaken to examine
patterns of injury among restrained 4- to 9-year-old by seat location and
crash impact site. The data were obtained from an ongoing hospital-based
monitoring system. Seventy percent of the sample sustained a head or face
injury. Upper-torso and extremity injuries were infrequent. Lower torso
injuries occurred primarily in frontal impacts in both the back and front
seats. Frontal impacts resulted in a greater proportion of serious injuries
than rear impacts. The most serious injuries, however, occurred to children
seated on the side of impact in lateral collisions. Questions must be
raised regarding the appropriateness of the present restraint system for
young children. Recommendations, given current seat belt systems, are
provided. However, technological improvements in vehicle design and belt
systems are needed to improve protection, particularly in lateral impacts.
