Comparison of motor vehicle collision and non-motor vehicle collisions related child restraint seat injuries in British Columbia: 1997-2002

Abstract

In Canada, as in many other countries, the mandatory use of child safety restraints (CSRs) over the past two decades has resulted in a drastic reduction in child mortality attributed to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) (Snowdon, Polgar, Patrick, & Stamler, 2006). However, the ease of using CSRs outside of a vehicle has led to unexpected deleterious consequences to younger children. In this study, we looked at all injuries sustained by children (0-9 years) which involved a CSR and compared injuries which related to MVCs to those which occurred in other locations. Out of a total of 107 cases, 95 (88.8%) were not motor vehicle collision related (non-MVC) and the majority of these (87/95; 91.6%) occurred among children under 12 months of age. Children injured while in a CSR outside of a vehicle were also more likely to suffer from a head injury than those involved in an MVC (Odds Ratio 23.3). This study highlighted the importance of the continued education of parents to the unexpected hazard of placing children on elevated surfaces while in a CSR. Furthermore, it demonstrated the need to place additional pressure on manufacturers to ensure that design modifications address this consistent pattern of injury. Language: en