Child Passenger Safety in the School-age Population

Abstract

Car seats are designed for infants and seat belts are designed for adults; the omitted group, school-age children, are at especially high risk for injury in motor vehicle crashes. This article discusses motor vehicle crash dynamics, federal safety standards, misuse, risk factors, barriers to optimal restraint, and injury prevention strategies to promote the healthy development of the school-age child. The author focuses on the role of nurses who can provide families with counseling, health education, and guidance to promote child motor vehicle occupant safety. The author stresses the important role of booster seats, which can significantly reduce injury and death associated with motor vehicle accidents in this population. However, booster seats must be installed and used properly in order for them to be most effective. The author outlines a series of injury prevention strategies that nurses can use to educate themselves and the parents and families they work with. The author concludes by reiterating that nurses can play a major role in injury prevention by initiating, developing, and implementing prevention strategies.