THE PEDIATRICIAN AND AUTOMOBILE PASSENGER TRAUMA PREVENTION

This paper presents the role of the pediatrician and the commitment of the American Academy of Pediatrics to child automobile passenger safety. A brief summary of the nature and scope of the highway epidemic is given. The historical role of pediatricians in addressing the problem is reviewed. A new, innovative project of the Academy of Pediatrics, "The First Ride... A Safe Ride," as part of an overall child passenger safety program is presented. The goals, objectives and the organizational structure of this major emphasis project, and the commitment of the Academy to achieve this is outlined. We emphasize the fact that the prevention of highway trauma is a medical problem. It requires a serious commitment, working together, of pediatricians, other health care specialists, and their organizations to influence public, education and research to further the proper use of child passenger restraining devices.