Comparison of motor vehicle occupant injuries in restrained and unrestrained 4- to 14-year-olds

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Abstract

This study compares injuries of restrained and unrestrained 4- to 14-year-olds in nine emergency rooms and the Coroner's office in Orange County, California from 1983 to 1989. Analyses were performed separately for 4- to 9- and 10- to 14-year-olds because of differences related to the fit of the seat belt. Significantly fewer intracranial injuries and a significantly lower mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) were seen between the restrained and unrestrained for 10- to 14-year-olds in the front passenger and back seats; but for 4- to 9-year-olds in the back seat only. These same differences were noted between restrained 4- to 9-year-olds in the back compared with those in the front passenger seat. Except for 4- to 9-year-olds in the front passenger seat, our findings are consistent with similar studies of occupants of all ages. Our results suggest that lap-shoulder belts (primary restraint in front seat) may provide less protection for 4- to 9-year-olds than for 10- to 14-year-olds and adults.

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Presented in part at the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, October 22–26, 1989, Chicago, IL. This study was supported in part by the California State Office of Traffic Safety (Peter O'Rourke, director), the US Department of Transportation, and a grant from the Centers for Disease Control. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funding agencies.

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