Objective: To evaluate the effect of seating position on risk of injury to children in side impact (SI) crashes.
Study Population: 5,632 children < 15 years of age in model year 1990 or newer passenger cars involved in 4,104 SI collisions between 12/1/98 5/31/00.
Methods: This study was performed as part of the Partners for Child Passenger Safety project, an on-going child-focused MVC surveillance system. A sample of eligible crashes was selected for a telephone survey with the driver of the vehicle in which crash and injury details were collected.
Results: 77% of the children were seated in the back and 96%were restrained. The overall risk of significant injury was 2.7%, and was higher (4.1%) for children seated on the side of impact. Children in the front seat were more likely to be injured (OR 2.6 95% CI (1.1-6.2)) than children seated in the rear when the child was sitting on the side of the impact. The risk of significant injury for rear-seated children was similar regardless of whether the child was seated next to or away from the impact.
Conclusions: Sitting in the front seat increases a child’s risk of injury in side impact crashes, supporting the current recommendation to place all children < 13 years of age in the rear seats of vehicles. These results have implication for public health initiatives targeting child occupant protection
Learning Objectives: To evaluate the effect of seating position on risk of injury to children in side impact (SI) crashes.
Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Children
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Dynamic Science Incorporated, RoperStarch Worldwide
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.