Injuries wearing seat belts
06/07/2009Some Good News About Child Injuries
The number of children under 12 injured in car accidents in Great Britain fell by more than 1,000 in the first full year since the introduction of the new car seat law, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
This is proof that the legislation introduced in 2006 was working and helping to reduce child injuries. The New law was made it compulsory for children under 12 and below 4ft 5in (1.35m) tall to use child car seats or booster seats. In 2005, 7,033, there were child injuries under 12 in cars, and 326 of were killed or seriously injured. In 2007 the number of child injuries had fallen to 5,927, with 271 killed or seriously injured.
Child Injuries Caused by Seat Belts
Whilst it is well settled that the wearing of seat belts in motor vehicles to adults and children can reduce child injuries nevertheless there is evidence that child injuries can be caused by the use of the seat belts if not fitted correctly.
Medical experts have to be particularly wary of child injuries caused by a seat belts to the spinal cord which injuries may not always be apparent.
According to Temple University see reporting Web Site
“Unless physicians are diligent, spinal-cord injuries are hard to diagnose in children. In the event of a car accident, seat belt injuries such as bruising and tenderness should warrant a search for other injuries, including spinal-cord injury, vertebral fractures and intra-abdominal injuries. If spinal-cord injury is missed or not diagnosed early, the consequences can be devastating,” said Harsh Grewal, M.D., in a report published in August issue of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
Car accidents, are the most common cause of child injuries and death and are also the most common cause of spinal cord injury in children. In general, seat belts and safety restraints should be adjusted according to age and weight.
