Child passenger restraint use and emergency department–reported injuries: A special study using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program, 2004

Authors: Karen C. Lee, Ruth A. Shults, Arlene I. Greenspan, Tadesse Haileyesus & Ann M. Dellinger
Date Added: 09 Apr 2012
Last Update: 23 Jul 2013
Format: html

To assess levels of use, mis-use and non-use of child car restraints among different groups.

Review of accident records and interviews with parents of children attending an Emergency Department having being injured in a road accident.

In 2004, more than 180,000 child passengers aged 12 years or younger sought care in U.S. hospital emergency departments for injuries sustained in motor-vehicle crashes.
Data for 635 injured children aged 12 years or younger who were treated at 15 hospital EDs in 2004 was collected and their parents interviewed about the accident circumstances.
9% of the children were unrestrained and 36% were inappropriately restrained.
Black and Hispanic children were about six times more likely to be unrestrained than Non–Hispanic Whites (12% and 14%, respectively, vs. 2%).
77% of inappropriate restraint use occurred among children aged 4–8 years, who were prematurely placed in seatbelts.
8% of children required hospitalization; unrestrained children were three times more likely to be hospitalized than restrained children (21% vs. 7%).
Age–appropriate restraint use should be promoted for child passengers, particularly among Black and Hispanic children, and children riding in trucks.

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