J Trauma. 2003 Jul;55(1):126-9. doi: 10.1097/01.TA.0000037335.24174.28.

Ejections of young children in motor vehicle crashes.

The Journal of trauma

Andrew Howard, Ali Moses McKeag, Linda Rothman, Jean-Louis Comeau, Brian Monk, Alan German

PMID: 12855891 DOI: 10.1097/01.TA.0000037335.24174.28

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of ejection from the vehicle among children involved in motor vehicle crashes, and to describe a novel mode of ejection from child safety seats.

METHODS: The U.S. National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System databases from 1995 through 1999 were analyzed. A prospective two-center study of children involved in severe car crashes in Canada was performed.

RESULTS: Only 0.2% of 5.5 million children involved in crashes experienced ejection, but 1924 (29%) of 6570 child fatalities involved ejections. Only 2.2% of children experienced rollover crashes, but these contributed 1832 (28%) of 6570 child passenger fatalities. Among 56 crashes, 5 restrained young children were ejected, 4 in rollover crashes. Ejection of a toddler through the shoulder straps of a forward-facing child safety seat was the mechanism of ejection in three of the five cases.

CONCLUSION: Ejection from the vehicle is common (29%) among fatally injured children. Shoulder straps alone (as found in T-shield or overhead shield child seats) may not prevent the ejection of toddlers from child safety seats during rollovers.

MeSH terms

• Accidents, Traffic / mortality
• Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Equipment Failure
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Ontario / epidemiology
• Prospective Studies
• Protective Devices*
• Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
• Wounds and Injuries / etiology

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't