Sled tests and CIREN data illustrating the benefits of booster seats

Abstract Booster seats are recommended for children approximately 4 to 10 years old, with more specific recommendations according to their size. The booster seat improves the geometry of the lap and shoulder belts, and allows the child's lower limbs to bend at the knees eliminating the need to slouch. Without a booster seat, children will also often place the shoulder belt under their arm or behind their back. This paper presents sled tests with a 6-year old child dummy in several restraint conditions. In addition to correct booster seat use, the dummy is restrained with a three-point belt, and with the shoulder belt either behind the back or under the arm. Dummy injury measures illustrate the increased injury risk due to misuse of the shoulder belt. In support of the sled test findings, data from the CIREN (Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network) database illustrate injury trends resulting from these misuse scenarios.

[1]  Narayan Yoganandan,et al.  Booster Seats for Children: Closing the Gap Between Science and Public Policy in the United States , 2003, Traffic injury prevention.

[2]  F K Winston,et al.  Trends in booster seat use among young children in crashes. , 2001, Pediatrics.

[3]  D. Kallieris,et al.  Prediction of Cervical Spine Injury Risk for the 6-Year-Old Child in Frontal Crashes , 2003, Annual proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

[4]  Frederick P Rivara,et al.  Too small for a seatbelt: predictors of booster seat use by child passengers. , 2003, Pediatrics.

[5]  Martin R. Eichelberger,et al.  Injuries to children restrained in 2- and 3- point belts , 1998 .

[6]  J M Murphy,et al.  Child passenger safety. , 1998, Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners.

[7]  D. Durbin,et al.  Belt-positioning booster seats and reduction in risk of injury among children in vehicle crashes. , 2003, JAMA.

[8]  Flaura Koplin Winston,et al.  Evaluation of Restraint Type and Performance Tested with 3- and 6-Year-Old Hybrid III Dummies at a Range of Speeds , 2004 .

[9]  Kathleen D. Klinich,et al.  STUDY OF OLDER CHILD RESTRAINT/BOOSTER SEAT FIT AND NASS INJURY ANALYSIS. FINAL REPORT , 1994 .

[10]  Phyllis F. Agran,et al.  TRAUMATIC INJURIES AMONG CHILDREN USING LAP BELTS AND LAP/SHOULDER BELTS IN MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS , 1987 .

[11]  Gregory Stephens,et al.  CHILDREN IN RESTRAINTS , 1994 .

[12]  Poison Prevention,et al.  Selecting and using the most appropriate car safety seats for growing children: guidelines for counseling parents. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention. , 2002, Pediatrics.

[13]  W. Haddon,et al.  The injury severity score: a method for describing patients with multiple injuries and evaluating emergency care. , 1974, The Journal of trauma.

[14]  Kristy B. Arbogast,et al.  Sled Test Results Using the Hybrid III 6 Year Old: An Evaluation of Various Restraints and Crash Configurations , 2004 .

[15]  Kristy B Arbogast,et al.  Optimal Restraint Reduces the Risk of Abdominal Injury in Children Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes , 2004, Annals of surgery.

[16]  Dainius J. Dalmotas,et al.  ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL FRACTURE DISLOCATION IN LAP-BELT RESTRAINED CHILDREN , 1993 .